Citation

Walton MAL, Epstein-Ngo Q, Carter PM, Zimmerman MA, Blow FC, Buu A, Goldstick J, Cunningham RM. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017; 173: 117-125.

Affiliation

University of Michigan Injury Center, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 2800 Plymouth Road, NCRC10-G080, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Hurley Medical Center, 1 Hurley Plaza, Flint, MI 48503, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.11.040

PMID

28219802

Abstract

AIMS: This paper examined longitudinal marijuana use trajectories among drug-using youth presenting to the ED to inform intervention development.

METHODS: Given interest in substance use and violence, this study oversampled those presenting with assault injuries. Assault-injured youth (ages 14-24) endorsing past 6-month drug use (n=349), and a sex and age proportionally-sampled comparison group (n=250) endorsing drug use, completed a baseline assessment and follow-ups at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Latent class trajectory analyses examined days of marijuana use over 2 years. Multinomial regression analyses examined baseline, 12-month and 24-month factors associated with substance use trajectory groups.

RESULTS: Trajectory analyses identified 5 groups: Low (Low; 28.2%; n=169); Intermittent (INT; 16.2%; n=97); Moderate Decline (MD; 12.0%; n=72); High decline (HD, 13.2%; n=79) and Chronic (C; 30.4%; n=182). At baseline, as compared to the Low group, the other trajectory groups were more likely to be male and have greater levels of physical aggression. At 12- and 24-months, negative and positive peer influences, incarceration and community violence were additional characteristics associated with the greater marijuana use trajectories (as compared to the Low group).

CONCLUSIONS: Interventions for drug-using youth presenting to the urban ED should address peer influences, physical aggression and community violence exposure, given the association between these characteristics and greater marijuana use trajectories.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Latent class trajectory analysis; Marijuana use; Peer influence; Violence; Youth