|
Release Date: Oct. 30, 2003
FOREIGN-BORN YOUTH
GRADUALLY PICK UP DRUG HABIT IN U.S.
By Becky Ham, Science Writer
Health Behavior News Service
There are fewer drug users among foreign-born teens compared to their
counterparts who are born in the United States, but this gap gradually closes
as the youths spend more time in this country, according to new research.
The difference between U.S.-born and foreign-born youths becomes insignificant
after 10 years of residency in the United States, say Joseph Gfroerer and
Lucilla Tan of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Their findings are published in the November issue of the American
Journal of Public Health.
The researchers suggest that acculturation may be behind the gradual rise
in drug use among foreign-born teens.
“Acculturation occurs through contacts with parents and peers, formal
education and exposure to media such as television, movies and magazines.
Each of these could influence a youth’s propensity to use substances,” Gfroerer
says.
The researchers analyzed data from nationwide household surveys of drug
abuse in 1999 and 2000. The surveys contained information from 50,947 youth
ages 12 to 17. Seven percent of the teens said they were born outside of
the United States.
The teens were asked whether they smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol, used
illicit drugs like marijuana, heroin and cocaine, or abused prescription
medications like pain relievers. Gfroerer and Tan found that the prevalence
rates for drug use were lower among foreign-born teens, especially those
ages 16 to 17.
Increasing numbers of foreign-born youth reported drug use, however, after
five to 10 years of living in the United States. Rates of drug use were
also higher among foreign-born Hispanic teens who answered the survey questions
in English rather than Spanish, which may indicate a greater level of acculturation
among those youth, say the researchers.
# # #
Health Behavior News Service: (202) 387-2829 or www.hbns.org.
Interviews: Contact Leah Young, SAMHSA Public Affairs, at (301) 443-3740 or
LYoung@samhsa.gov.
American Journal of Public Health: (202) 777-2511 or www.ajph.org.
Center for the Advancement of Health
Contact: Ira R. Allen
Director of Public Affairs
202.387.2829
press@cfah.org
|
