Abstract
Background: Accumulating research suggests that the gateway hypothesis of substance use may not apply equally across different race/ethnicity groups. Objectives: The current study examines racial and ethnic differences in patterns of initiation of licit and illicit substance use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 696 low-income women between the ages of 18 and 31 who sought gynecological care between December, 2001 and May, 2003 in southeast Texas. Results: Overall, White women fit the classic profile of drug use initiation patterns, with those initiating tobacco and beer/wine at earlier ages being more likely to use illicit drugs. Conversely, African-American and Hispanic women initiated tobacco and beer/wine at much later ages than White women, but they were as likely to use illicit drugs. Conclusions: To be optimally effective, prevention efforts may need to be tailored to fit the race/ethnicity of the audience. Further studies are suggested to investigate specific risk factors related to substance use initiation by race/ethnicity.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 123-129 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2010 |
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Keywords
- Ethnicity
- Health disparities
- Substance use
- Women
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
Cite this
Differential racial/ethnic patterns in substance use initiation among young, low-income women. / Wu, Z. Helen; Temple, Jeffrey; Shokar, Navkiran K.; Nguyen-Oghalai, Tracy U.; Grady, James J.
In: American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Vol. 36, No. 2, 03.2010, p. 123-129.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential racial/ethnic patterns in substance use initiation among young, low-income women
AU - Wu, Z. Helen
AU - Temple, Jeffrey
AU - Shokar, Navkiran K.
AU - Nguyen-Oghalai, Tracy U.
AU - Grady, James J.
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - Background: Accumulating research suggests that the gateway hypothesis of substance use may not apply equally across different race/ethnicity groups. Objectives: The current study examines racial and ethnic differences in patterns of initiation of licit and illicit substance use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 696 low-income women between the ages of 18 and 31 who sought gynecological care between December, 2001 and May, 2003 in southeast Texas. Results: Overall, White women fit the classic profile of drug use initiation patterns, with those initiating tobacco and beer/wine at earlier ages being more likely to use illicit drugs. Conversely, African-American and Hispanic women initiated tobacco and beer/wine at much later ages than White women, but they were as likely to use illicit drugs. Conclusions: To be optimally effective, prevention efforts may need to be tailored to fit the race/ethnicity of the audience. Further studies are suggested to investigate specific risk factors related to substance use initiation by race/ethnicity.
AB - Background: Accumulating research suggests that the gateway hypothesis of substance use may not apply equally across different race/ethnicity groups. Objectives: The current study examines racial and ethnic differences in patterns of initiation of licit and illicit substance use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 696 low-income women between the ages of 18 and 31 who sought gynecological care between December, 2001 and May, 2003 in southeast Texas. Results: Overall, White women fit the classic profile of drug use initiation patterns, with those initiating tobacco and beer/wine at earlier ages being more likely to use illicit drugs. Conversely, African-American and Hispanic women initiated tobacco and beer/wine at much later ages than White women, but they were as likely to use illicit drugs. Conclusions: To be optimally effective, prevention efforts may need to be tailored to fit the race/ethnicity of the audience. Further studies are suggested to investigate specific risk factors related to substance use initiation by race/ethnicity.
KW - Ethnicity
KW - Health disparities
KW - Substance use
KW - Women
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U2 - 10.3109/00952991003718072
DO - 10.3109/00952991003718072
M3 - Article
VL - 36
SP - 123
EP - 129
JO - American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
JF - American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
SN - 0095-2990
IS - 2
ER -