Creating a geospatial database of risks and resources to explore urban adolescent substance use

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Urban Sociology
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Understanding the social ecology of urban youth is crucial for addressing substance abuse.
• Existing research often lacks detailed spatial analysis of environmental risk and protective factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the methodology for creating a comprehensive geospatial database for urban youth.
• To systematically analyze the social ecology of risk and protection influencing adolescent well-being.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a geographic information systems (GIS) approach to integrate diverse variables at multiple geographic levels.
• Collected and mapped adolescent activity locations to estimate individual risk and protection exposure.
• Integrated data on crime hotspots, potentially negative establishments, and protective resources (e.g., parks, libraries).

Main Results:

• Successfully constructed a geospatial database using Washington, DC adolescent substance abuse treatment data.
• Demonstrated the ability to assess individual exposure to both environmental risks and protective resources.
• Provided a framework for understanding the spatial distribution of factors influencing urban youth.

Conclusions:

• Geospatial databases offer a powerful tool for understanding the complex interplay of environmental factors affecting urban youth.
• This methodology provides a dynamic approach to assessing risk and protection, guiding future research and interventions.
• Challenges and opportunities exist in utilizing dynamic geospatial data for youth-focused research.