Gender Differences and Similarities in Patterns of Drug Use and Attitudes of High School Students

Pascale, Pietro J.; Evans, William J.

doi:10.2190/6rcg-pv89-w810-8j01

Cited by 24 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This is feasible because no gender differences were found in other studies of patterns of addictive substances use in high-school students [25]. Nevertheless, since some different perceptions about drugs could be related to gender and age, administration dependence of high-school and socio-economic circumstances, these aspects should be investigated in future research focusing on the main measurements in knowledge, attitudes and practices in self healthcare.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term effects of an educational intervention on self‐medication and appropriate drug use in single‐sex secondary public schools, Quito, Ecuador

MALDONADO

Meléndez

Figueras

2006

Brit J Clinical Pharma

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What is already known about this subject• Self‐medication is extensively practised in both developed and less‐developed countries, sometimes inappropriately.• Educational intervention in secondary schools has been proven to be useful.• Most educational interventions in adolescent populations have focused on the reduction of addictive substance abuse.What this study adds• Educational intervention can improve knowledge about self‐medication and reduce misconceptions about diarrhoea, common cold and vitamins in an adolescent population.• A specific lecture followed by small working‐group seminars produces better results than a general lecture alone in terms of ‘knowledge’ and ‘attitude’.• The positive effects of the intervention are detectable even 1 year later. Yearly reinforcing interventions while in secondary school would allow long‐lasting effects.AimImproving knowledge about rational drug use at an early age may be a good way to increase the population’s awareness of health, medicines and self‐medication. We set out to evaluate the short‐ and long‐term effects of an educational intervention to promote rational drug use and self‐medication in secondary school students.MethodsA non‐randomized, controlled clinical trial. The participants were 367 female students (10–13 years old) from two secondary public schools of the metropolitan district of Quito (Ecuador). The educational campaign had two components [a specific lecture (intervention and control schools) and subsequent small working group seminars (intervention school)] providing short and clear messages of five topics related to rational drug use. The main outcome measures were an increase in ‘knowledge’ short term (1 month) and long term (up to 1 year) after intervention and the relative risk (RR) reduction in misconceptions or wrong ideas about medicine use.ResultsThe intervention group showed a significant increase in knowledge both short and long term and in comparison with the control group, mainly regarding oral rehydration salts preparation (+59.4%; P < 0.001), lack of multivitamin energizer action (+57.4%; P < 0.001), healthy growth effects (+53.3%; P < 0.001) and the perception that medicines’ promotional activities do not teach how to take care of health (+54.0%; P < 0.001). A RR reduction in misconceptions about drugs was found short term and long term. The intervention group was less predisposed to consume antidiarrhoeals [RR = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62, 0.92], cough suppressants (0.44, 95% CI 0.35, 0.55) and other medicines for the common cold (0.56, 95% CI 0.45, 0.70). Misconceptions concerning the benefits of multivitamin preparations were reduced in 73%; additionally, the intervention group showed a decrease in their consumption (43.9% basal; 25.3% short term and 25.6% long term; P < 0.001).ConclusionIt is possible to achieve a favourable modification of attitudes to appropriate use of medicines in a teenage population and this modification lasts at least 1 year. Continuous reinforcing interventions would allow better and long‐lasting effects and could help to fill the gap in health education of the general population.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term effects of an educational intervention on self‐medication and appropriate drug use in single‐sex secondary public schools, Quito, Ecuador

MALDONADO

Meléndez

Figueras

2006

Brit J Clinical Pharma

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“…While the majority of motivational research has focused on alcohol use, additional studies have included cigarettes and/or illicit drugs (e.g., Butler & Gunderson, 1981; Carlson & Edwards, 1987, 1990; Comeau et al, 2001; Chabrol et al, 2005; Johnston & O’Malley, 1986; Novak at al., 2003; Parks & Kennedy, 2004; Pascale & Evans, 1993; Sheppard et al, 1985; Simons & Cary, 2000; Simons & Cary, 2003). Studies that have included multiple substances have shown that unique motivation dimensions accompany different drugs (Johnston & O’Malley, 1986; Segal, 1983; Segal et al, 1982, 1980; Simons et al, 2000), and have also supported the findings that reasons differ by level of involvement (Carlson & Edwards, 1990; Johnston & O’Malley, 1986; Segal, 1983; Segal et al, 1982, 1980; Shearn & Fitzgibbons, 1973; Simons & Cary, 2000, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, among 87 treatment-seeking cocaine-using adults, associations between childhood maltreatment and substance use onset, escalation, and severity of substance use indicate that various forms of maltreatment were more strongly associated with substance use among females than males. Regarding motivations for use, one longitudinal study with high school students in the Midwestern US found that although gender was significantly related to drug use prevalence, perceived harm, and age of first use, no gender differences in the reasons for actually using drugs were observed (Pascale & Evans, 1993). Other research involving smaller cross-sectional studies of college students indicated the possibility of significant differences: (a) human values, in general, may differ between males and females (Carlson & Edwards, 1987, 1990); (b) anxiety levels may associate positively with nicotine use for coping reasons among females but not males (Stewart et al, 1997), and (c) females may be more likely to expect cognitive/behavioral impairment and generally negative effects associated with marijuana use, while males may be more likely to expect relaxation and perceptual/cognitive enhancement (Schafer & Brown, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reasons for Drug Use among American Youth by Consumption Level, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity: 1976–2005

Terry‐McElrath

O’Malley

Johnston³

2009

Journal of Drug Issues

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This study examined self-reported reasons for the use of nine substances among nationally representative samples of US high school seniors participating in the Monitoring the Future study from 1976 through 2005. In general, social/recreational reasons were the most commonly reported reasons for the use of most drugs. However, for psychotherapeutic drugs, coping with negative affect and physical needs reasons were most commonly mentioned. Results indicated that the proportion of students reporting various reasons has shifted significantly over time. Further, we found significant differences by gender and race/ethnicity in reported reasons for use. Prevention and intervention efforts must address the facts that (1) while social usage reasons do predominate, it is essential to consider coping and drug-effect reasons for use as well; and (2) there are appreciable differences by gender and race/ethnicity in reasons for drug use.

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“…peer curiosity, loneliness, need for relaxation, and recreation.' Alcohol is the only substance to surpass cigarettes and marijuana in frequency of use.h, 9 To monitor certain priority health-risk behaviors of adolescents, the CDC developed the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS),'O and subsequently, a study documented the reliability of the YRBS questionnaire for use with high school adolescents." The YRBSS attempts to determine the extent to which adolescents are putting their health and well-being at risk.…”

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confidence: 99%

Comparison of Selected Health Risk Behaviors Between Adolescents in Public and Private High Schools in South Carolina

Valois

Thatcher

Drane

et al. 1997

Journal of School Health

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This study examined differences in selected health risk behaviors among 5,517 students attending public high schools (PUBHS) and 1,089 students attending private high schools (PVTHS) in South Carolina. The 1995 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey was used to collect self-report information on adolescent risk behaviors. Chi-square analyses were performed for comparing public and private students on selected risk behaviors. Both PUBHS and PVTHS students reported substantial involvement in most of the risk-taking behaviors examined. PUBHS students, in general, were more likely to report higher prevalence rates than PVTHS students for most of the selected health risk behaviors. However, PVTHS students reported even higher prevalence rates than PUBHS students for alcohol use, driving after drinking, and binge drinking; smoking cigarettes (past 30 days); chewing tobacco (males only); marijuana use during the past 30 days (females only); and use of alcohol or other drugs before last act of sexual intercourse. Results suggest attendance at a private high school is not a panacea for protection against adolescent risk behaviors, and that all high school students could benefit from a coordinated school health program.

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Gender Differences and Similarities in Patterns of Drug Use and Attitudes of High School Students

Cited by 24 publications

References 7 publications

Long‐term effects of an educational intervention on self‐medication and appropriate drug use in single‐sex secondary public schools, Quito, Ecuador

Long‐term effects of an educational intervention on self‐medication and appropriate drug use in single‐sex secondary public schools, Quito, Ecuador

Reasons for Drug Use among American Youth by Consumption Level, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity: 1976–2005

Comparison of Selected Health Risk Behaviors Between Adolescents in Public and Private High Schools in South Carolina

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