The influence of high school dropout on substance use among African American youth.

Full Abstract

The role of high school dropout in the onset and rapid escalation of substance use was investigated with 1,762 African American youth participating in the 1990 and 1992 follow-ups of the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88). In 1990, all youth were students; most were in the 10th grade and approximately 16 years old. Path analysis models were used to examine dropout's unique contribution to substance use and its mediational effect on the association of prior problem behavior with later substance use. Compared with students, dropout youth were 1.6 times more likely to smoke cigarettes and 1.3 times more likely to smoke marijuana. Partial mediational effects emerged for problem behavior and use of cigarettes and marijuana.

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Author information

Author/s: Kogan, Steven M (SM); Luo, Zupei (Z); Brody, Gene H (GH); Murry, Velma McBride (VM);

Affiliation: Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4527, USA. smkogan(-atsign-)uga.edu

Grants: P20-MH068666 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse (J Ethn Subst Abuse), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-; vol 4 (issue 1) : pp 35-51

Dates: Created 2006/07/27; Completed 2006/08/29; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16870571, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
African Americans - statistics & numerical data
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male

Male
Prospective Studies
Questionnaires
Schools
Student Dropouts - psychology; statistics & numerical data
Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; ethnology

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