Five distinct substance use patterns emerged among nearly 1,800 urban adolescents of color | Research

The takeaway

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.

Urban adolescent health workers, substance use prevention specialists, and community health researchers

1,789 adolescents; 5 distinct use pattern classes identified

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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

How to read the evidence

Large sample with appropriate latent class methodology, but single community cross-sectional design limits generalizability and causal inference.

When this study was published

2024 study

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.

Questions still open

What community-level factors drive these distinct use patterns? Would interventions targeting specific class profiles be more effective than universal prevention?

Common 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 the original research

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

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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