Adolescent risk taking and self-reported injuries associated with substance use

Objective: To examine the incidence of adolescent substance use at the time of injury and its relation to risk-taking behavior. Method: A total of 643 male and 782 female 9th through 12th grade students at three high schools anonymously completed surveys on any injuries that had occurred in the prio r 6 months associated with substance use and risk-taking behavior. Results: Males reported a higher incidence of injuries related to alcohol or other drugs than females (17.3% vs. 13%). The 17 year olds reported more injuries related to substance use than 14 or 15 year olds (20.2% vs. 14.4% and 15%, respectively). A logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of a substance use-related injury increased approximately sixfold when adolescen ts reported engaging in risk-taking behavior. Conclusion: A significant por tion of adolescents (approximately 15%) reported injuries associated with s ubstance use. Adolescents who reported a history of risk-taking behaviors w ere much more likely to report substance use-related injuries.