Substance use and socio-demographic factors among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students in New South Wales

Objective: To estimate prevalence rates of substance use and associated soc io-demographic factors among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) s econdary students. Method: This paper presents ATSI data from population-based school surveys conducted in 1996, 1992 and 1989 in New South Wales and replicates identica l analysis using the three datasets. Results: The proportion of ATSI students in each survey ranged from 2.5% to 3.8%. After adjusting for age, gender and sociodemographic factors, ATSI s tudents were more likely to smoke cigarettes, and to have tried cannabis an d other illicit substances. Conclusions: This study suggests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students were more susceptible to, and maintained a higher rate of, substa nce use than non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. Socio-demogra phic differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students in age, rur al/urban status, living with both parents, reporting poor school performanc e, low parental supervision and high school absenteeism remained significan tly associated with Aboriginal status and substance use. Implications: This is one of the first studies examining substance use in a large and representative sample of in-school ATSI youth. These results pro vide information useful for public health advocates, and require policy cha nges more likely to reduce substance use among ATSI youth.