Social‐Ecological Influences on Patterns of Substance Use Among Non‐Metropolitan High School Students

• DOI: 10.1007/s10464-009-9289-x
• Publication Date: 2010-01-13T17:11:50Z
• Authors: Christian M. Connell; Tamika D. Gilreath; Will M. Aklin; Robert A. Brex
• Keywords: Health psychology; Social ecology

Abstract Patterns of substance use are examined in a sample over 1,200 youth non‐metropolitan region New England. Self‐reported history and frequency alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants, pain medications, other hard drug was assessed for 9th 10th grade students. Latent class analyses identified four patterns use: non‐users (22%), alcohol experimenters (38%), occasional polysubstance users (29%), frequent (10%). Contextual risk protective factors the individual, family, peer, community domains predicted patterns. Youth report peer had largest effects on membership. Other individual characteristics (e.g., gender, antisocial behavior, academic performance, perceived harm from use), family parental drinking, disapproval availability substances) demonstrated consistent classes. Implications prevention discussed social‐ecological perspective.