Five distinct substance use patterns emerged among nearly 1,800 urban adolescents of color
Among 1,789 predominantly Hispanic adolescents in an underserved urban community, five distinct substance use patterns were identified, with higher risk groups showing greater mental health problems and easier perceived access to drugs.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Five latent classes were identified: predominant alcohol use (11.9%), concurrent drug and alcohol use with methamphetamine and marijuana (4.2%), concurrent drug and alcohol use without marijuana (11.4%), high concurrent drug and alcohol use (11.4%), and concurrent drug use without alcohol (61.5%). Mental health, access to drugs, and risk perception significantly differentiated the groups.
Key Numbers
1,789 adolescents; 56.9% female; 70.9% Hispanic/Latino; mean age 16; 5 classes: 61.5% drug use without alcohol, 11.9% primarily alcohol, 11.4% high concurrent use, 11.4% drug/alcohol without marijuana, 4.2% drug/alcohol with meth and marijuana
How They Did This
Latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression of data from 1,789 adolescents (56.9% female, 70.9% Hispanic/Latino, mean age 16) in an underserved urban community. Assessed alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana, and other drug use patterns.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding distinct substance use profiles among urban adolescents of color allows for more targeted, culturally relevant prevention programs rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that the majority of adolescent substance users in this community used drugs without alcohol challenges assumptions about alcohol being the gateway substance and highlights diverse pathways to substance involvement.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design; single underserved urban community limits generalizability; self-reported substance use; cannot determine causality between mental health and substance use patterns; 70.9% Hispanic/Latino may not represent other communities
Questions This Raises
- ?What community-level factors drive these distinct use patterns?
- ?Would interventions targeting specific class profiles be more effective than universal prevention?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 1,789 adolescents; 5 distinct use pattern classes identified
- Evidence Grade:
- Large sample with appropriate latent class methodology, but single community cross-sectional design limits generalizability and causal inference.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Latent Class Groups of Concurrent Substance Use Among Adolescents in an Urban Community: Correlates With Mental Health, Access to Drugs and Alcohol, and Risk Perception.
- Published In:
- Substance use & addiction journal, 45(1), 124-135 (2024)
- Authors:
- Lardier, David T, Davis, Alexandra N, Verdezoto, Carolina S, Cruz, Lynda, Magliulo, Sabrina, Herrera, Andriana, Garcia-Reid, Pauline, Reid, Robert J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05453
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What substance use patterns exist among urban adolescents?
Five distinct groups emerged: the largest (61.5%) used drugs without alcohol; 11.9% primarily used alcohol; two groups (about 11% each) combined drugs and alcohol in different ways; and a small group (4.2%) had the most concerning pattern of methamphetamine, marijuana, and alcohol use together.
What distinguished higher-risk groups?
Adolescents in higher concurrent use classes had greater mental health problems, perceived easier access to drugs and alcohol, and different risk perceptions compared to lower-use groups. Sociodemographic characteristics also varied between groups.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05453APA
Lardier, David T; Davis, Alexandra N; Verdezoto, Carolina S; Cruz, Lynda; Magliulo, Sabrina; Herrera, Andriana; Garcia-Reid, Pauline; Reid, Robert J. (2024). Latent Class Groups of Concurrent Substance Use Among Adolescents in an Urban Community: Correlates With Mental Health, Access to Drugs and Alcohol, and Risk Perception.. Substance use & addiction journal, 45(1), 124-135. https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342231207192
MLA
Lardier, David T, et al. "Latent Class Groups of Concurrent Substance Use Among Adolescents in an Urban Community: Correlates With Mental Health, Access to Drugs and Alcohol, and Risk Perception.." Substance use & addiction journal, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342231207192
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Latent Class Groups of Concurrent Substance Use Among Adoles..." RTHC-05453. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/lardier-2024-latent-class-groups-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.