ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VIOLENT BEHAVIORS AND SUBSTANCE USE AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICAN AND NON-HISPANIC WHITE HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of violent behaviors among Mexica n-American and non-Hispanic white high school students and to explore the associations between violent behaviors and alcohol and illicit dru g use. Methods: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey was administered to 178 6 high school students in a biethnic community in Southeast Texas; 65% were Mexican-American, 26% were non-Hispanic white, and 9% were of an other ethnicity. Results: There were no significant ethnic differences in prevalence of drinking alcohol, illicit drug use, fighting, carryi ng a weapon, or planning or attempting suicide. After adjustment for a ge, carrying a weapon and fighting were significantly associated with alcohol and illicit drug use, with few exceptions, among the four gend er- and ethnic-specific subgroups. However, the relationship between s uicide (plans and attempts) and substance use among the four subgroups was less consistent and of much lower magnitude than for carrying a w eapon and fighting. Conclusions: A substantial percentage of adolescen ts engage in violent behaviors, and fighting and weapon carrying are a ssociated with substance use among both gender and ethnic groups. A sy stematic and integrated approach to changing the environment and norms of communities is needed to affect change and reduce the morbidity an d mortality associated with violent behaviors. (C) Society for Adolesc ent Medicine, 1998.