The primary purpose of this study was to utilize an ecological-transactional theoretical framework and an existing longitudinal data set to examine the relationships among neighborhood context, family supervision, association with deviant peers, and patterns of substance use during adolescence. Participants included 821 youth from the Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) data set. Data include primary caregiver and youth self-report measures of adult supervision, peer associations, and substance use. Data also include community survey and systematic social observation measures of neighborhood social processes such as collective efficacy, social disorder and social capital, neighborhood disadvantage, policing, and perceived danger collected from 1994-2001 in the city of Chicago. Latent growth curve modeling analyses were used to answer the research questions. Study results were significant associations between neighborhood social processes and substance use. Contrary to previous findings, more positive neighborhood social processes were related to higher levels of substance use for females. For both the African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino groups, deviant peer associations were related to higher levels of substance use at age 12. For the Hispanic/Latino group, higher neighborhood socioeconomic status was related to greater increases in substance use over time. Study results suggest the continued importance of research to discover sex and ethnic variation in associations among contextual influences and adolescent substance use. The current study makes a significant contribution to extant literature by examining the influence of neighborhood social processes, deviant peer associations, and supervision on substance use trajectories. Including peers, parental, and neighborhood factors&mdashin one model&mdashprovided a more comprehensive examination of how contextual influences impact the development of adolescent substance use. In addition, using a multilevel analysis with a diverse, longitudinal data set provided further insights into understanding ethnic and gender variation in the development of adolescents' substance use. Supplemental files include description of PHDCN scale items, HOME measure, Deviance of Peers measure, and items from the Substance Use Interview.

abstract: The primary goal of this study was to investigate whether youth from an affluent community showed elevated rates of substance use and associated problems in young adulthood relative to national norms. The secondary goal was to determine if parents’ “containment,” or stringent disciplinary action, of adolescent substance use as measured in Grade 12 could help predict substance use in senior year of college, over and above other parenting factors. The final goal was to assess trends of substance use over time for stability based on categories of participants’ overall levels of use in Grade 12, (low, medium, high). Results indicated that substance use remained elevated into young adulthood, relative to national norms, consistent with extant research involving upper middle class youth. In regression analyses, high parents’ containment was associated with low substance use in senior year of college; however, the inclusion of Grade12 use as a covariate reduced this association with containment such that it was no longer statistically significant. Such results suggest a mediated effect, with Grade 12 substance use mediating the effects of Grade 12 Containment on college senior year substance use. Finally, upper middle class youth were found to remain in their relative substance use group (low, medium, high) as determined at Grade 12 through all four years of college. Taken together, these results emphasized the importance of high school substance use behaviors as a notable risk factor for problematic substance use over time. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2015

Prevention scientists have called for more research on the factors affecting the implementation of substance use prevention programs. Given the lack of literature in this area, coupled with evidence that children as early as elementary school engage in substance use, the purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence the implementation of substance use prevention programs in elementary schools. This study involved a mixed methods approach comprised of a survey and in-person interviews. Sixty-five guidance counselors and teachers completed the survey, and 9 guidance counselors who completed the survey were interviewed individually. Correlation analyses and hierarchical multiple regression were conducted. Quantitative findings revealed ease of implementation most frequently influenced program implementation, followed by beliefs about the program’s effectiveness. Qualitative findings showed curriculum modification as an important theme, as well as difficulty of program implementation. The in-person interviews also shed light on three interrelated themes influencing program implementation – The Wheel, time, and scheduling. Results indicate the majority of program providers modified the curriculum in some way. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed, and areas for future research are suggested.

There are more women enlisting in the military and, as a result, the Veterans Administration (VA) is experiencing an increase in women veteran's utilization of healthcare services. This study examined the factors that facilitate and/or impede women veterans with a substance use disorder seeking VA substance use treatment. The current study examined predisposing, enabling, and need factors related to utilization of VA substance use treatment. An intact dataset of 1004 participants were utilized in addition to a subset of 143 women veterans with a substance use disorder who sought substance use treatment. Predisposing factors significantly differentiated women veterans with and with a substance use disorder. A significant difference was not found between severity of substance use diagnosis and health insurance status. Marital status and socio-economic status were the only predictor variables that significantly predicted women veterans with a substance use disorder and utilization of VA substance use treatment. The results provide mixed support related to previous research. Future directions for research are discussed.

abstract: Although child welfare services are anticipated, in part, to lessen the negative influence of maltreatment on childhood and adolescent development, there is evidence that involvement in the foster care system negatively affects adolescent substance use. Within the literature, limited empirical research has emerged in regard to this issue. The present study aims to fill this critical gap in the literature by examining the association between baseline biological, psychological, and social risk and protective factors on adolescent involvement in substance use, and frequency of substance use, over a period of 24 months for foster care involved youth. Furthermore, the present study compares substance use behaviors between youth with differing experiences of maltreatment subtypes and severity levels. Data come from VOYAGES, a longitudinal study of older adolescents in the custody of the Missouri Children’s Division for foster care services. The current analysis reports on those youth who completed both the baseline and the final interview (N=323). Key findings include significant associations between baseline peer substance use, lowered levels of school commitment, mentorship, and familial support with later adolescent substance use. Overall, the existence of numerous individual risk factors far outweighs the potential of protective factors buffering against subsequent substance use in the current study. The foster care system, although well-intentioned, potentially barricades individuals from successfully navigating through adolescence and early adulthood without engaging in risky behaviors such as substance use. Given the high prevalence of substance use among those placed in the care of the foster care system, prevention efforts for this population requires an improved understanding of psychosocial risk and protective factors. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Criminology and Criminal Justice 2019

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) use increases risk of nicotine addiction, impairs brain development, and exposes users to harmful chemicals. Despite these risks, rates of use have been increasing among college student populations. Moreover, family history of addiction (FHA) is a risk factor for substance use disorders. Research has yet to examine the extent FHA has on the risk of ENDS use. The current research examines the effect of FHA on lifetime ENDS use and whether ENDS use is more common in participants with FHA and current alcohol or drug use. Participants (N=2,174) were undergraduates recruited from eight southern universities. Participants were 18 to 24 (Mage=19.25). The sample was 73% female, with the following racial identifications: Caucasian (74.9%), followed by Black/African American (8.8%), Asian (6.7%), multiracial (4.7%), other (3.7%), Middle Eastern (.8%), and American Indian/Alaska Native (.3%). Lifetime ENDS use was measured using the Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use Questionnaire. FHA was measured by participant report of first-degree relatives with a drug or alcohol addiction history. Participant alcohol and drug use were measured via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and Drug Use Disorders Identification Test. Fifty-five percent of participants had used ENDS products during their lifetime (Mage of first use=13.16, SD=4.63), and 12.5% of the sample reported FHA. A linear regression examined if FHA corresponded with ENDS use. The results were significant, F(1,2158)=10.37, p=.001, R2=.005. FHA significantly predicted ENDS use, β=-0.069, t(2158)=-3.22, p=.001. A chi-square of independence examined the relation between ENDS use and alcohol intake in individuals who disclosed FHA. A significant relation was found, χ2=(1,N=176)=32.20, pχ2=(1,N=176)=9.49, p=.002, with participants who reported no drug use being more likely to engage in ENDS use (86%), compared to those who did report drug use (14%). The present study’s results documented there was a significant negative relation between FHA and ENDS use, such that participants who reported FHA presented decreased ENDS use. These findings are contrary to the literature that documents increased cigarette use among young adults with FHA. In addition, participants who disclosed FHA and current alcohol intake exhibited increased ENDS use. However, the participants who disclosed FHA and current drug use exhibited decreased ENDS use. Our results suggest that future research should examine the extent at which individuals who engage in drug use focus more on their substance of choice rather than ENDS products, as well as investigate other risk behaviors that could impact lifetime ENDS use among this population.

No description available.

Purpose: The current study was conducted to ascertain whether the effects of nativity (i.e., U.S. born vs. immigrant) on Hispanic adolescent substance use is mediated by ecological processes such as family functioning, school connectedness, and perceived peer substance use. Methods: The effects of family, peer, and school processes on adolescent substance use were examined in a nationally representative sample of 742 (358 male, 384 female) Hispanic youth (mean age = 15.9; SD = 1.8). Results: Results from a structural equation model indicated that the higher rates of substance use among U.S.-born Hispanics (compared with foreign-born Hispanics) are partially mediated by perceived peer substance use (as measured by the adolescent). The results also showed that perceived peer substance use and school connectedness mediate the relationship between family processes and substance use, suggesting that family processes may offset some of the deleterious effects of negative peer selection on adolescent substance use. Conclusion: These findings imply that public health behavioral interventions to prevent substance use among both U.S.-born and foreign-born Hispanics may need to attend to multiple ecological processes, including family, school, and peers.

The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive profile of the alcohol, cigarette, marijuana and cocaine use practices among adolescents and to examine the relationship between employment, political beliefs, religious beliefs and substance use behaviors among high school seniors participating in the Monitoring the Future Study during the 2002 academic school year. Data from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study (2002 12th grade core data) was used for this study. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between substance use behaviors and employment, political beliefs, and religiosity. Analysis showed that males and females who believed religion was very important were less likely to have initiated alcohol use, to be a current user, and to have binge drank. A significant association was found for all alcohol use variables for those individuals who worked moderate amounts at an after school job. Political beliefs were found to be associated for initiation and current alcohol use but not for binge drinking. Political beliefs, religion, and employment were all significantly associated with cigarette use and cocaine use. Conceptualisation of substance use behavior and its prevention and treatment should include consideration of such key cultural and social factors as religiosity, employment and political beliefs of adolescents.

Objective: Pain is associated with increased risk for harmful substance use. Substance use also may increase levels of pain, suggesting that these two factors may reciprocally increase risk. The current study examined the reciprocal association between pain and substance use outcomes (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, and painkillers/seda-tives/tranquilizers [PSTs]) longitudinally in a nationally representative cohort of non-incarcerated U.S. citizens. Method: Adult (≥18 years old) survey data from Waves 2–4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were used. The PATH is a nationally representative multiwave cohort survey (Wave 2: October 2014–October 2015, Wave 3: October 2015–October 2016, Wave 4: December 2016–January 2018). Cross-lagged panel models were used to estimate the reciprocal effects of pain intensity and substance use on subsequent changes in both variables. Substance use outcomes were substance use problems and greater-than-weekly use for cannabis and PSTs, total past-month drinks, and alcohol use exceeding moderate drinking guidelines. All models controlled for autoregressive effects and demographic covariates. Results: Pain intensity showed a positive prospective association with all substance use outcomes. All cannabis and PST use were positively associated with subsequent pain intensity. Alcohol use problems also predicted higher levels of pain intensity. Neither total past-month drinks nor exceeding moderate drinking guidelines predicted subsequent pain intensity. Conclusions: Pain and substance use show a reciprocal association and may act in a positive feedback loop to worsen both conditions over time in people with a history of use.