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Local Spatial Clustering in Youths Use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Marijuana in Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Apr 20 2016
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Source: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 42(4):412-421.
[PDF-416.78 KB]
Details:
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Alternative Title:Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse
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Description:Background
Understanding geographic variation in youth drug use is important for both identifying etiologic factors and planning prevention interventions. However, little research has examined spatial clustering of drug use among youth using rigorous statistical methods.
Objectives
The purpose of this study is to examine spatial clustering of youth use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana.
Methods
Responses on tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use from 1,292 high school students ages 13-19 who provided complete residential addresses were drawn from the 2008 Boston Youth Survey Geospatial Dataset. Response options on past month use included “none”, “1-2”, “3-9”, and “10 or more”. The response rate for each substance was approximately 94%. Spatial clustering of youth drug use was assessed using the spatial Bernoulli model in the SatScan™ software package.
Results
Approximately 12%, 36%, and 18% of youth reported any past-month use of tobacco, alcohol, and/or marijuana, respectively. Two clusters of elevated past tobacco use among Boston youths were generated, one of which was statistically significant. This cluster, located in the South Boston neighborhood, had a relative risk of 5.37 with a p-value of 0.00014. There was no significant localized spatial clustering in youth past alcohol or marijuana use in either the unadjusted or adjusted models.
Conclusion
Significant spatial clustering in youth tobacco use was found, and this type of research can be used for local targeting of drug abuse prevention interventions. Finding a significant cluster in the South Boston neighborhood provides reason for further investigation into neighborhood characteristics that may shape adolescents’ substance use behaviors. Future research should evaluate the underlying reasons behind spatial clustering of youth substance use.
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Pubmed ID:27096932
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC4966281
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Volume:42
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Issue:4
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