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Depression, Suicidal Ideation, and Substance Use Among Continuation High School Students

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Abstract

This study examines the structural relationships among depression, suicidal ideation, “gateway” substance use (including cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana), and “hard” substance use (including cocaine, stimulants, and inhalants) in a sample of continuation high school students at high risk for drug abuse. When the model was examined separately by ethnic group (Latino and Caucasian) and gender, significant differences among the factor correlations emerged. Compared to Latinos and females, Caucasians and males, respectively, demonstrated a greater number of significant relationships among the factors. For Latinos and females, only the depression and suicidal ideation factors were significantly correlated with each other, as were the gateway and hard substance use factors. For Caucasians and males, four of the six factors were significantly intercorrelated. One implication is that mood enhancement may be a particularly important reason for hard substance use among Caucasian and male adolescents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Los Angeles

    Elisha R. Galaif (Assistant Researcher at the Substance Abuse Research Center)

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, USA

    Chih-Ping Chou (Assistant Professor of Research in the)

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of California, USA

    Steve Sussman (Associate Professor at the Institute for Prevention Research and)

  4. University of Southern California, USA

    Clyde W. Dent

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  1. Elisha R. Galaif
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Galaif, E.R., Chou, CP., Sussman, S. et al. Depression, Suicidal Ideation, and Substance Use Among Continuation High School Students. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 27, 275–299 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022898919257

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