Single and Multiple Patterns of Adolescent Substance Use: Longitudinal Comparisons of Four Ethnic Groups

Abstract

Patterns of drug use for 847 adolescents from four different ethnic backgrounds were examined over a five-year period. Eight distinct patterns of use were identified. In addition to a nonuser group, only one large single substance use group emerged; that for alcohol use. Almost 60 percent of the participants were multiple users of two or more types of substances. Black students had consistently the highest frequency of single-cigarette smokers and the highest frequency of multiple use of alcohol-cigarette-cannabis in the last two years of the study. Asian adolescents showed only the highest level of single-alcohol consumption in Year 1, which vanished over time. Hispanics and Whites consistently contained the highest number of multiple users of alcohol-hard drug with either cigarette or cannabis or both. Comparing the patterns of substance use at three points in time, there was a general increase in drug use, as well as three distinct directions of movement: Stability, regression and progression. Results were discussed in regard to an upward or downward mobility theory of drug involvement.

Protective and Risk Factors Associated with Drug Use Among Hispanic Youth

“…These findings are supported by numerous studies conducted on the drug use behavior of non-Hispanic youth as well as by the few studies which have investigated the patterns of illicit and licit drug use of Hispanic individuals. 32 In line with the findings of other researchers are the results which indicate that youth of Mexican-American origin appear to use licit and illicit drugs at a higher rate than other Hispanic youth, except for Puerto Rican youth. 4,33 The findings from this research have consistently indicated that Mexican-American individuals use and abuse licit and illicit drugs at a higher rate than Cubans and South and Central American individuals.…”

Modeling substance use in emerging adult gay, bisexual, and other YMSM across time: The P18 cohort study

“…In prospective studies of adolescents and young adults, the onset of substance use is most often associated with age, often beginning in adolescence and peaking in emerging adulthood (Chen and Jacobson, 2012; Clark et al, 2013; Maddahian et al, 1985). Drawing on data from the Monitoring the Future Study, Kroutil et al (2010) observed that lifetime prevalence use of alcohol and marijuana increased with age.…”

Prevalence and Correlates of Substance Use Among Young Asian Pacific Islander Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…There is a tendency to view Asian Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the United States as having low risk for substance use (Maddahian et al, 1985;Bachman et al, 1991). The perception of APIs as a "model minority" bolsters this perception (Zane & Kim, 1994).…”

“…According to this belief, APIs represent a socioeconomically privileged minority group having only modest risk for adverse psychosocial and health outcomes such as substance use (Chen & Hawks, 1995). Epidemiological data from national samples have suggested that APIs experience the lowest substance use rates compared with African Americans, Latinos, and White Americans (Bachman et al, 1991;Maddahian et al, 1985;SAMHSA, 2002). However, some studies challenge this categorical view with findings that show high substance use among certain API demographic subgroups (Ellickson & Morton, 1999;Nemoto et al, 2002;Oetting et al, 2000;Price et al, 2002).…”