Association of Contextual Factors with Drug Use and Binge Drinking among White, Native American, and Mixed-Race Adolescents in the General Population

Abstract

Large-scale surveys have shown elevated risk for many indicators of substance abuse among Native American and Mixed-Race adolescents compared to other minority groups in the United States. This study examined underlying contextual factors associated with substance abuse among a nationally representative sample of White, Native American, and Mixed-Race adolescents 12-17 years of age, using combined datasets from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH, 2006-2009, N = 46,675, 48.77 % female). Native American adolescents displayed the highest rate of past-month binge drinking and past-year illicit drug use (14.06 % and 30.91%, respectively). Results of a logistic regression that included seven predictors of social bonding, individual views of substance use, and delinquent peer affiliations showed that friendships with delinquent peers and negative views of substance use were associated significantly with both substance abuse outcomes among White and Mixed-Race adolescents and, to a lesser extent, Native American adolescents. The association of parental disapproval with binge drinking was stronger for White than for Native American adolescents. Greater attention to specific measures reflecting racial groups’ contextual and historical differences may be needed to delineate mechanisms that discourage substance abuse among at-risk minority adolescent populations.

Similarities in the Etiology of Alcohol Use Among Native American and Non-Native Young Women

“…Consistent with previous research (Chen et al, 2012), best friends' alcohol use was a risk factor for NA and nonNative young women, both directly and mediated through permissive norms. Among NA girls, best friends' use also influenced positive alcohol expectancies.…”

“…There is a history of research examining risk and protective factors for NA adolescent alcohol use (Dickens et al, 2012); however, few studies have examined these factors at multiple levels (Chen et al, 2012). Economic deprivation, discrimination, and cultural conflicts are social stressors that have been shown to increase risk for NA youth's substance use (Chen et al, 2012).…”

“…Economic deprivation, discrimination, and cultural conflicts are social stressors that have been shown to increase risk for NA youth's substance use (Chen et al, 2012). Social alienation and conflict may affect social bonding and connections, limiting a key protection against negative influences and amplifying the influence of negative peer influences (Chen et al, 2012).…”

“…Economic deprivation, discrimination, and cultural conflicts are social stressors that have been shown to increase risk for NA youth's substance use (Chen et al, 2012). Social alienation and conflict may affect social bonding and connections, limiting a key protection against negative influences and amplifying the influence of negative peer influences (Chen et al, 2012). Threats to school bonding are important; a strong school bond has been found to be an important protective factor and moderator of the effect of negative peer influence on NA adolescent alcohol use (Dickens et al, 2012).…”

Alcohol Treatment of Oral Streptococcus Spp. Increased the Entry of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 into Non-Malignant and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

“…However, it is recognized that selective anatomic sites for HPV 16 infection, a sign of mucotropism occurs in concert with sexually transmission among young Caucasian males [2,30]. This group also demonstrates a unique alcohol behavior that is designated as binge drinking but it is identified with low blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and accompanied by periodic spikes of AA synthesis [31][32][33]. We suggest that this behavior pattern aids in opportunistic Streptococcus spp.…”