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Title: Differential Outcomes for Adolescents: Alcohol Users Compared to Alcohol and Marijuana Users
Resulting in 1 citation.
1. Shillington, Audrey M.
Clapp, John D.
Differential Outcomes for Adolescents: Alcohol Users Compared to Alcohol and Marijuana Users
Presented: Atlanta, GA, 5th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, 2001
Cohort(s): NLSY79 Young Adult
Publisher: Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
Keyword(s): Alcohol Use; Peers/Peer influence/Peer relations; Substance Use

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Purpose: Nosological efforts among mental health and substance use researchers have previously examined AOD problems based upon single-substance use. This is one of the first efforts to study the differences between single-substance uses (alcohol only) and poly-substance use (alcohol and marijuana). This is important considering the rise in marijuana use among youth. The literature on poly-substance use is scant and has been limited to college samples.

Methods: The data are from the twenty-year National Longitudinal Survey of Youth study selecting out youth aged 15 and older (N = 1672) in 1996 with analyses guided with the Person-In-Environment Model (individual, peer/family and environmental variables).

Results: Poly-substance users' ages at onset for both substances was one year younger than alcohol only users (but equivalent chronological ages). Significantly more binge drinking was reported by poly-substance users compared to alcohol-only users. Significantly more poly-substance users reported substance use related problems that were social (fighting, problems with family) responsibility (missed school) and legal (legal problems, drove drunk) in nature compared to alcohol-only users. Further, poly-substance users reported significantly more problems that were not a direct result of substance use (admission to a youth corrections institution, run-away, damaged property, fighting, theft, inflicting injury) compared to the alcohol-only users. Cluster analyses (for problem clusters) and logistic regression models will be conducted to identify unique risk and protective factors and problem clusters associated with each substance use pattern while controlling for use severity. A theoretically driven final model will be presented.

Implications: When designing adolescent intervention programs it's important to consider individual, peer and environmental factors that may contribute to alcohol and/or marijuana use and resultant problems. From a primary prevention perspective, information on characteristics of adolescents with different use patterns should not only add to our knowledge base but drive our prevention/intervention efforts.

Bibliography Citation
Shillington, Audrey M. and John D. Clapp. "Differential Outcomes for Adolescents: Alcohol Users Compared to Alcohol and Marijuana Users." Presented: Atlanta, GA, 5th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, 2001.