title: Understanding hard-core drug use among urban Puerto Rican women in high-risk neighborhoods.
abstract: The objectives of the current study were to determine the incidence and prevalence of hard-core drug (HCD) use and to explore the predictors of HCD use in a three-wave longitudinal study of women ages 18-35 living in urban areas of high drug traffic in Puerto Rico. Prevalence of HCD use was determined by positive self-report or positive toxicological tests for crack, cocaine, or heroine at baseline and follow-up periods. Incidence density was calculated using Poisson methods. Predictors of HCD use were identified using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach. Prevalence rates fluctuated between 16.3 at baseline and 12.6 and 14.6 at subsequent waves. Incidence of crack/cocaine or heroine ranged from 7.4 to 6.3 per 100 person years. Low education, unemployment, current alcohol use, and severe partner violence predict incident HCD use. Therefore, prevention programs for HCD use must consider strategies to promote social mobility and empowerment and to mitigate violence against women.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, Puerto Rico. malegria@rcm.upr.edu
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alegría
authors.forename: Mildred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shrout
authors.forename: Glorisa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
authors.forename: Shenghan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albizu
authors.forename: Heriberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rusch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine