title: Heroin use among Miami's public school students, 1992: peers and the "drug subculture" overwhelm parents, religion and schools.
abstract: This analysis examines the use of heroin by 481 adolescents in Dade County, Florida public schools during 1992. Statistically significant factors which tend to increase the probability of heroin use by adolescents include: peer use of heroin and students' involvement in school clubs. Not significantly related to heroin use is their access to the drug, their ethnic background or race, and their gender. Although not statistically significant, adolescents were more likely to use heroin if they knew of the risks associated with heroin use. There are no statistically significant variables which inhibit the rise of heroin by Miami adolescents. When religion was an important part of their lives, they were at lower risk for heroin use, but this was not significant. Also not significantly related to heroin use are a number of other variables, including family-related variables (whether adolescents live with their mothers, fathers, or alone: and whether someone in the family has a problem with drugs or alcohol). Similarly, early cigarette smoking and alcohol rise did not serve as gateways to later heroin use. Academic performance, and extracurricular school activities (athletics, music, and other activities) were all unrelated to the use of heroin by adolescents, with the exception of involvement in school clubs which substantially increased the risk of heroin use.
authors: Department of Public Administration, Florida International University, North Miami 33181, USA.
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Yarnold
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003625:Data Collection; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents; D010379:Peer Group; D012067:Religion; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin