Health and substance use behavior: the longitudinal Harlem Health Study

Described here is a 22 year prospective study of adolescents focusing on health problems, substance use and other health behaviors, and treatment needs of urban African Americans. The study panel was drawn from a probability sample of households in Central Harlem (NYC). Accordingly, it is a community representative sample comprised about equally of males and females. Data from the study have been used for planning the local municipal hospital's adolescent service and for informing drug policy and community education activities regarding trajectories in and out of drug use. Given the timing of the research, the latter has focused chiefly on heroin and polydrug use. Current investigation focuses on drug use and sexual practice as risk behavior in HIV infection. In the report which follows, requirements and procedures in sample retention are emphasized, since epidemiological research is valid only to the extent its population representativeness is maintained. Major findings regarding health and substance use trajectories over three data collection time points are discussed.