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Laia Bécares Northeastern University NHSN Annual Conference September 16th, 2005

Effect of Recency of Immigration on Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Hispanic High School Students in Massachusetts. Laia Bécares Northeastern University NHSN Annual Conference September 16th, 2005. Youth Experimental Drug Use.

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Laia Bécares Northeastern University NHSN Annual Conference September 16th, 2005

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  1. Effect of Recency of Immigration on Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Hispanic High School Students in Massachusetts Laia Bécares Northeastern University NHSN Annual Conference September 16th, 2005

  2. Youth Experimental Drug Use • 75% of U.S. high school students report lifetime alcohol use; 44.9% recent alcohol use1 • 40.2% report lifetime marijuana use, 22.4% recent marijuana use1 1. CDC, 2004

  3. Hispanic Youth in US • In 2003, 24.9 million youths aged 12 to 17 in the U.S • Almost 4 million (16.1%) were of Hispanic origin2 • About 3.1 million (77.8%) of Hispanic youths were U.S.-born2 2. SAMHSA, 2005

  4. Hispanic Youth Drug Use Source: CDC, 2004

  5. Differences Between Hispanic Youth Source: SAMHSA, 2005

  6. Aim of Study • To assess the association between recency of immigration and lifetime, recent (past 30 days), and early initiation (before age 13) to alcohol and marijuana use among Hispanic high school students in Massachusetts

  7. Methods: YRBS Data • Merged YRBS data from 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003 Massachusetts surveys • Subsample of Hispanic students (N=1,643) • 51% males and 49% females

  8. Methods: Analysis • Independent Variable: • Recency of Immigration • In US less than 3 years (n=228) • In US 4-6 years (n=137) • More than 6 years but not all life (n=408) • Always lived in US (n=871) • Dependent Variables: • Alcohol • Lifetime; recent (past 30 days); early initiation (prior to age 13) • Marijuana • Lifetime; recent; early initiation

  9. Methods: Analysis (continued) • Dichotomized responses to dependent variables (Y/N) • Gender and age differences assessed via chi-square analysis (sig. at p<.05) • One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) controlling for age and gender used to assess differences in marijuana and alcohol use • Data weighted to adjust for selection probabilities

  10. Sample Characteristics: Grade

  11. Sample Characteristics: Immigration

  12. Results: Overall Drug Use Gender differences: • Males were significantly more likely than females to report early initiation to alcohol (p<.01); lifetime, recent, and early initiation to marijuana use (p<.01) • No significant gender differences in lifetime or recent alcohol use Age differences: • Age differences were found in lifetime, recent, and early initiation of marijuana use (p<.01), as well as in lifetime and early initiation of alcohol use (p<.01)

  13. Results: Overall Alcohol Use

  14. Results: Overall Marijuana Use

  15. *p≤ .05; **p ≤.001; I: ≤ 3 yrs in US; II: 4-6 yrs in US; III:>6 yrs in US; IV: Always lived in US

  16. Conclusions • Non-immigrant Hispanic students reported higher rates of recent (past 30 days) alcohol use; lifetime, and recent marijuana use • Recent immigrants reported lower rates of alcohol and marijuana use in all categories, compared to all other groups • No constant pattern shown by late immigrants and Hispanics living in the U.S. between 4 and 6 years • Results corroborate previous findings regarding the impact of recency of immigration on Hispanic adolescent substance use4 4. Vega, Zimmerman, Gil, Warheit, and Apospori, 1993

  17. Limitations • No differentiation among Hispanic subgroups • Data only reflect substance use of Hispanic youth in school

  18. Acknowledgments • Anita Raj, Ph.D., Boston University School of Public Health • Sandra Arévalo, M.A., Northeastern University • Hortensia Amaro, Ph.D., Northeastern University • New Investigator Committee Members

  19. Questions & Feedback Thank you

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