Hispanic teens more likely to use drugs, study says

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Hispanic teens are more likely to use illicit drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine, compared with their African-American and Caucasian counterparts, according to a new study.

The study was released this month by the Partnership at Drug Free organization.

It says that 54% of Hispanic teens reported having used an illicit drug, followed by African-American teens at 45%. Caucasians came third at 43%.

Why? There is no definitive answer, but there are contributing factors involved, according to William Raikes, assistant director of consumer research at The Partnership at Drugfree.org.

A larger percentage – 62% of Hispanic teens – have been offered drugs such as ecstasy, crack/cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine at least once, compared with 53% of Caucasian teens and 46% of African-Americans.

When it came to Hispanic parents, 21% said they were OK if their teen “smoked marijuana sometimes,” compared with 11% of African-American parents and 6% of Caucasian parents.

“Parental permissiveness is another factor we document as being linked to teen substance abuse. Hispanic parents appear to have some misconceptions regarding prescription drug misuse and abuse,” Raikes said. “Both of these factors could have an influence on a child’s substance abuse.”

Some of these factors are well-documented predictors of substance abuse, such as a teen’s perceived risks and social disapproval, according to the study.

“Perceived risks” weigh how risky a certain behavior – such as substance abuse – appears to a teen. “Social disapproval” measures a teen’s approval of his or her peers’ substance abuse. Both of these measures have been shown to precipitate actual substance abuse.

Hispanic parents reported the highest rates of problems establishing rules that prohibit drug use. However, Hispanics adolescents received less punishment for their drug use, the report states.

Hispanic parents are just as likely as others to have conversations with their children about the risks of addiction. The disparity between drug use and warnings are because the talks are focused on trying to prevent the abuse of these substances by their children and not on prevention, according to the study.

Hispanic teens are more likely to encounter substance abuse in their daily lives. Specifically, having access to substances, to have friends who abuse substances, and to have been offered substances. This could influence a teen to perceive substance abuse as a normal behavior, increasing their chances to engage in the dangerous activity.

This trend is occurring throughout the country, not one geographic area that is more susceptible to substance abuse than others. Although certain drugs have a tendency to be more prevalent in certain areas – for instance marijuana is more prevalent on the West coast than in the Midwest.

“Hispanic teen substance abuse however, is a national trend and Hispanic parents throughout the country should heed the call and talk to their kids,” Raikes said.