title: Racial/ethnic variations in substance-related disorders among adolescents in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While young racial/ethnic groups are the fastest growing population in the United States, data about substance-related disorders among adolescents of various racial/ethnic backgrounds are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the magnitude of past-year DSM-IV substance-related disorders (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin, analgesic opioids, stimulants, sedatives, and tranquilizers) among adolescents of white, Hispanic, African American, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander, and multiple race/ethnicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 2005 to 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Noninstitutionalized household adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Substance-related disorders were assessed by standardized survey questions administered using the audio computer-assisted self-interviewing method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 72 561 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, 37.0% used alcohol or drugs in the past year; 7.9% met criteria for a substance-related disorder, with Native Americans having the highest prevalence of use (47.5%) and disorder (15.0%). Analgesic opioids were the second most commonly used illegal drugs, following marijuana, in all racial/ethnic groups; analgesic opioid use was comparatively prevalent among adolescents of Native American (9.7%) and multiple race/ethnicity (8.8%). Among 27 705 past-year alcohol or drug users, Native Americans (31.5%), adolescents of multiple race/ethnicity (25.2%), adolescents of white race/ethnicity (22.9%), and Hispanics (21.0%) had the highest rates of substance-related disorders. Adolescents used marijuana more frequently than alcohol or other drugs, and 25.9% of marijuana users met criteria for marijuana abuse or dependence. After controlling for adolescents' age, socioeconomic variables, population density of residence, self-rated health, and survey year, adjusted analyses of adolescent substance users indicated elevated odds of substance-related disorders among Native Americans, adolescents of multiple race/ethnicity, adolescents of white race/ethnicity, and Hispanics compared with African Americans; African Americans did not differ from Asians or Pacific Islanders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substance use is widespread among adolescents of Native American, white, Hispanic, and multiple race/ethnicity. These groups also are disproportionately affected by substance-related disorders.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. litzy.wu@duke.edu
authors: Li-Tzy
authors: LT
authors: Wu
authors: George E
authors: GE
authors: Woody
authors: Chongming
authors: C
authors: Yang
authors: Jeng-Jong
authors: JJ
authors: Pan
authors: Dan G
authors: DG
authors: Blazer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D044382:Population Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology