The role of neighborhood in urban black adolescent marijuana use.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The present study examined the influence of neighborhood factors on transitions in marijuana involvement during adolescence in a sample of primarily low-income, urban Black youth.

Methods

556 Black adolescents were interviewed annually beginning in first grade as part of a longitudinal study. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to examine stages of marijuana involvement from 6th to 9th grades. The influence of neighborhood disorder, drug activity, violent crime, safety and disadvantage on transitions in marijuana involvement was tested using latent transition analysis (LTA).

Results

There was evidence for three stages of involvement: no involvement, offered, and use and problems. Involvement increased steadily during adolescence with a slightly greater ris

SUBMITTER: Reboussin BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4536173 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature