title: Tobacco use among African-American youth receiving behavioral healthcare services.
abstract: African-American youth with behavioral health problems may be particularly vulnerable to tobacco use and dependence; however, little is known about overall prevalence and factors associated with tobacco use in this population. The present study compared rates of tobacco use for African-Americans (aged 13-17) receiving behavioral healthcare services to state and national prevalence rates. In addition, we examined whether tobacco use prevalence was related to treatment characteristics and services rendered. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted at an urban, public behavioral healthcare agency for youth admitted in 2009. Tobacco use rates among African-Americans receiving behavioral healthcare services were similar to, and in some cases, higher than statewide and national prevalence rates. While tobacco users were more likely to be enrolled in a substance abuse program than in a mental health program, only 2 of 55 youth reporting tobacco use had received documented tobacco cessation treatment. Future work should focus on implementing tobacco cessation prevention and treatment for these youth.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0310, USA. abbrelan@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Alison B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Breland
authors.forename: Aashir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasim
authors.forename: Jessica G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Irons
authors.forename: J Randy
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology; D062789:Tobacco Products