Urban-rural comparisons of drug-taking behavior among Alaskan youth.
This study explores drug-taking behavior among Alaskan youth in urban, rural, and semiurban communities. It finds significant differences among these locations, which are largely attributable to variations in age of first trying marijuana and alcohol. Racial group effects specific to initiation into marijuana, and gender differences related to initiation to alcohol, are also found. The implications of these findings for education and prevention of drug-taking behavior are discussed, with special emphasis on racial and cultural factors.
Segal
B
B
Health Sciences, University of Alaska, Anchorage 99508.
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D014505:Urban Population