Predictors of substance use among vulnerable adolescents in five cities: findings from the well-being of adolescents in vulnerable environments study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Adolescent substance use has numerous consequences. Our goals in this article are to compare the prevalence and correlates of substance use among ethnically diverse adolescents.

Methods

Data were from 2,332 adolescents aged 15-19 years recruited via respondent-driven sampling from disadvantaged settings in five cities. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify correlates of current substance use.

Results

About half of the respondents were male. Most adolescents (73.4%) were currently enrolled in school and identified a father (86.2%) and mother (98.6%) figure and strong peer support. Sixty-two percent reported lifetime use of at least one substance. Overall, the most common substances ever used were alcohol (44.6%), cigarettes (26.2%), and marijuan

SUBMITTER: Olumide AO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4493747 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature