Substance Abuse Prevention for High-Risk Youth: Exploring Culture and Alcohol and Drug Use

• NCJ Number: 212624
• Journal: Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 23 Issue: 2/3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 165-184
• Author(s): Lori K. Holleran Ph.D.; Margaret A. Taylor-Seehafer Ph.D.; Elizabeth C. Pomeroy Ph.D.; James Alan Neff Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 20 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute for Nursing Research; Ctr for Health Promotion and Disease Research in Underserved Populations
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This pilot study explored issues of culture and alcohol and other drug use in relation to substance abuse prevention with high-risk youth, with attention to Latin youth and acculturation.

Abstract

The study involved 72 adolescents (33 boys and 37 girls) between the ages of 13 and 17 drawn from community-based programs in Austin, TX. An initial survey obtained demographic information and baseline information on the youths' attitudes and behavior relative to drugs and alcohol use. The measurement acculturation level was based on the updated Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican-Americans. Two videos--"The Ride" (non-Latino) and "The Fiesta" (Latino) were shown to the youth, and the youth were surveyed about responses to the videos and the frequency with which the youth used drug resistance strategies. Regarding the videos, Likert scales addressed three dependent variables: interest, realism/believability, and identification with video characters and language. Following the survey, audio-taped focus groups were used to obtain feedback on the youths' reactions to the videos and again assess the drug resistance strategies they used. Analyses found a high lifetime prevalence of drug use (over 80 percent for Whites and Latinos for beer, wine, liquor, and marijuana), with consistently lower prevalence rates found among African-Americans. The youth in all three settings consistently reported that the Latino video was "more realistic" and truer to "real world situations." There were significant ethnic differences in substance use over the last 30 days, with African-American youth reporting significantly lower use of marijuana and cocaine compared with other ethnic groups. More research is required to explore issues of acculturation, ethnicity, and substance abuse in high-risk youth, particularly in nonschool settings. Suggestions are offered for research methodology. 1 table, 2 figures, and 85 references