Hispanic Youth and Illicit Drug Use: Assessing the Relevance of Risk and Protective Factors

Although rates of illicit drug use in the United States have remained stable within the last decade, the age-of-onset for drug use is decreasing for certain substances, and the United States still accounts for the highest rates of overall drug use. In a recent national sample, an estimated 19.8 million users ages 12 years and older were identified. Preventative efforts that target adolescents often neglect to consider differences among racial/ethnic groups. Applying the Social Development Model (SDM), the current study examines the likelihood of drug use among Hispanic youth. Self-reported data (n = 37,445) from a statewide, school-based sample collected in 2008 are used. Results suggest that the SDM is a promising framework for assessing Hispanic youths’ likelihood of engaging in illicit drug use.