Substance use and dietary practices among students attending alternative high schools: results from a pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundSubstance use and poor dietary practices are prevalent among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine frequency of substance use and associations between cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use and selected dietary practices, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, fruits and vegetables, and frequency of fast food restaurant use among alternative high school students. Associations between multi-substance use and the same dietary practices were also examined.MethodsA convenience sample of adolescents (n = 145; 61% minority, 52% male) attending six alternative high schools in the St Paul/Minneapolis metropolitan area completed baseline surveys. Students were participants in the Team COOL (Controlling Overweight and Obesity for Life) pilot study, a group randomized obesity prevention pilot trial. Mixed model multivariate analyses procedures were used to assess associations of interest.ResultsDaily cigarette smoking was reported by 36% of students. Cigarette smoking was positively associated with consumption of regular soda (p = 0.019), high-fat foods (p = 0.037), and fast food restaurant use (p = 0.002). Alcohol (p = 0.005) and marijuana use (p = 0.035) were positively associated with high-fat food intake. With increasing numbers of substances, a positive trend was observed in high-fat food intake (p = 0.0003). There were no significant associations between substance use and fruit and vegetable intake.ConclusionsAlternative high school students who use individual substances as well as multiple substances may be at high risk of unhealthful dietary practices. Comprehensive health interventions in alternative high schools have the potential of reducing health-compromising behaviors that are prevalent among this group of students. This study adds to the limited research examining substance use and diet among at-risk youth.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01315743

Problem Behavior, Victimization, and Soda Intake in High School Students

“…Several studies have examined associations between problem behaviors (such as substance use) and intake of calorically sweetened beverages or caffeinated beverages. 9,10,33 Somewhat similar to the present study, other researchers also have found that drinking alcohol 34 and smoking 10,34,35 were significantly positively Park et al…”

“…10 Furthermore, consumption of sports drinks and other calorically sweetened beverages was not significantly associated with cigarette smoking, alcohol use, or marijuana use. 10 Calorically sweetened beverage intake has been associated with obesity, 11,12 dental caries, 13 type 2 diabetes, 14 displacement of nutrient-rich foods (eg, dairy), 15 disruptive behaviors, and poor mental health (eg, psychological distress). 16,17 A cross-sectional population-based study of Norwegian adolescents reported that high consumption of sugar-containing soft drinks (≥ 4 glasses or 0.8 liter/day) was associated with mental distress, hyperactivity, and conduct problems.…”

Cannabis Use and Its Social Correlates among In-School Adolescents in Algeria, Morocco, Palestine, Peru, and Tonga

“…This study found in line with one other study (Arcan et al, 2011) that dietary factors in terms of frequent eating in fast food restaurants and possibly high-fat food intake). The issue of dietary behaviour needs further exploration.…”

“…Risk factors for cannabis use among adolescents have been identified as follows: 1) sociodemographic factors (male gender Sznitman et al, 2013;Tu et al 2008; younger age (Siziya et al, 2013), lower economic status (Legleye, Beck, Khlat, Peretti-Watel & Chau, 2012;Tu et al, 2008); 2) Other drug use (alcohol, Faeh, Viswanathan, Chiolero, Warren & Bovet, 2006;Siziya et al, 2013;Tu et al, 2008;smokers, Faeh et al, 2006;Tu et al, 2008); 3) Other health risk behaviours (Bullying/fighting (Siziya et al, 2013;Sznitman et al, 2013); truancy (Alwan et al 2001); history of having engaged in sexual intercourse (Siziya et al, 2013); Dietary factors (high-fat food intake, Arcan, Kubik, Fulkerson, Hannan & Story, 2011;not being obese, Hayatbakhsh, O'Callaghan, Mamun, Williams, Clavarino & Najman, 2010); low levels of physical activity (Delisle, Werch, Wong, Bian & Weiler, 2010); 5) Injury (Barrio, Jiménez-Mejías, Pulido, Lardelli-Claret, Bravo MJ & de la Fuente, 2012); 5) Psychosocial factors (Alwan et al, 2011), and 6) Parental and school factors (Siziya et al, 2013;Sznitman et al, 2013;Tu et al, 2008).…”

Relationship between Drugs Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Senior High School Students

“…3 Drugs use among teenagers is one of the significant public health concerns. 4 A survey conducted at Minnesota 5 in 2011 showed that most of drugs users were 11-12 graders. Ricardo 6 stated that the number of drug users was increasing.…”