Protective and risk factors associated with drug use among Hispanic youth

Analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of Hispanic youths age 12-17 and their parents was done to investigate the impact of a number of variables on youths' drug-using behavior. The significance of youth, household, and parental characteristics were tested using measures of youth drug use as dependent variables in regression models. Parents' attitudes and use of licit and illicit drugs were found to play an important role in their children's drug use behavior. The results also provide some support for the hypothesis that Hispanic children whose parents are more acculturated into American society are at higher risk of using drugs. Youths of Mexican origin, youths living outside large metropolitan areas, and females were found to be more likely to use drugs. The results provide supportive evidence that for drug prevention education programs to be effective with Hispanic youths, they must be family oriented.