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Associations Between Drug Use and Behavioral Repertoire in Urban Youths

NCJ Number
166041
Journal
Addiction Volume: 91 Issue: 4 Dated: (1996) Pages: 523-534
Author(s)
C-E Johanson; F F Duffy; J C Anthony
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Data from 1,516 urban middle-school students formed the basis of an analysis of the relationship between how early adolescents spend their time and their use of marijuana, crack and cocaine, and inhalants.
Abstract
Information was collected by means of personal interviews in spring 1993. The interview included a 36-item questionnaire to assess how frequently the youths engaged in different activities; the history of drug-taking was assessed separately. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate associations between drug use and each of seven behavioral domains as well as sex, age, and racial-ethnic status. Results revealed that youths spending a great deal of time working for pay and assuming other adult-like roles were more likely to have initiated drug use than were other youths. The youths who spent much time in religious activities were less likely than others to have initiated drug use. An exploratory analysis of interactions disclosed other associations that deserve attention in future research. Findings confirm data on the potential etiologic significance of a youth's behavioral repertoire in relation to the risk of drug use. Tables, figure, appended list of behaviors, and 40 references