Display options
Cite
Wechsberg WM, Doherty IA, Browne FA, et al. Gang membership and marijuana use among African American female adolescents in North Carolina. Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2015;6:141-50doi: 10.2147/SAR.S93304.
Wechsberg, W. M., Doherty, I. A., Browne, F. A., Kline, T. L., Carry, M. G., Raiford, J. L., & Herbst, J. H. (2015). Gang membership and marijuana use among African American female adolescents in North Carolina. Substance abuse and rehabilitation, 6141-50. https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S93304
Wechsberg, Wendee M, et al. "Gang membership and marijuana use among African American female adolescents in North Carolina." Substance abuse and rehabilitation vol. 6 (2015): 141-50. doi: https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S93304
Wechsberg WM, Doherty IA, Browne FA, Kline TL, Carry MG, Raiford JL, Herbst JH. Gang membership and marijuana use among African American female adolescents in North Carolina. Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2015 Nov 09;6:141-50. doi: 10.2147/SAR.S93304. eCollection 2015. PMID: 26635492; PMCID: PMC4646480.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2015 Nov 09;6:141-50. doi: 10.2147/SAR.S93304. eCollection 2015.

Gang membership and marijuana use among African American female adolescents in North Carolina.

Substance abuse and rehabilitation

Wendee M Wechsberg, Irene A Doherty, Felicia A Browne, Tracy L Kline, Monique G Carry, Jerris L Raiford, Jeffrey H Herbst

Affiliations

  1. Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluations and Interventions Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, USA ; Gillings Global School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA ; Psychology in the Public Interest, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA ; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
  2. Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluations and Interventions Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, USA.
  3. Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluations and Interventions Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, USA ; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
  4. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.

PMID: 26635492 PMCID: PMC4646480 DOI: 10.2147/SAR.S93304

Abstract

The southeastern US sustains the highest high school dropout rates, and gangs persist in underserved communities. African American female adolescents who drop out of school and are gang members are at substantial risk of exposure to severe violence, physical abuse, and sexual exploitation. In this study of 237 female African American adolescents 16-19 years of age from North Carolina who dropped out or considered dropping out, 11% were current or past gang members. Adolescents who reported gang membership began smoking marijuana at a mean age of 13, whereas those who reported no gang membership began at a mean age of 15 years (P<0.001). The mean ages of first alcohol use were 14 years and 15 years for gang members and non-gang members, respectively (P=0.04). Problem alcohol use was high in both groups: 40% and 65% for non-gang and gang members, respectively (P=0.02). Controlling for frequent marijuana use and problem alcohol use, adolescents who reported gang membership were more likely than non-gang members to experience sexual abuse (odds ratio [OR] =2.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.06, 6.40]), experience physical abuse (OR =7.33, 95% CI [2.90, 18.5]), report emotional abuse from their main partner (OR =3.55, 95% CI [1.44, 8.72]), run away from home (OR =4.65, 95% CI [1.90, 11.4]), get arrested (OR =2.61, 95% CI [1.05, 6.47]), and report violence in their neighborhood including murder (OR =3.27, 95% CI [1.35, 7.96]) and fights with weapons (OR =3.06, 95% CI [1.15, 8.11]). Gang members were less likely to receive emotional support (OR =0.89, 95% CI [0.81, 0.97]). These findings reinforce the urgent need to reach young African American women in disadvantaged communities affiliated with gangs to address the complexity of context and interconnected risk behaviors.

Keywords: drug abuse; physical abuse; school dropouts; sexual abuse; violence; youth alcohol use

References

  1. Am J Community Psychol. 1999 Jun;27(3):383-404 - PubMed
  2. Pediatrics. 2002 Nov;110(5):e57 - PubMed
  3. Am J Public Health. 2004 Jul;94(7):1165-73 - PubMed
  4. Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Aug 1;160(3):230-9 - PubMed
  5. Sex Transm Infect. 2004 Dec;80(6):440-2 - PubMed
  6. Women Health. 2004;40(4):75-92 - PubMed
  7. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2007 Dec;35(6):1035-45 - PubMed
  8. Am J Epidemiol. 2008 May 1;167(9):1102-9 - PubMed
  9. Clin EEG Neurosci. 2009 Jan;40(1):31-8 - PubMed
  10. J Community Health. 2009 Aug;34(4):328-35 - PubMed
  11. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2009 Sep 1;52(1):114-20 - PubMed
  12. Health Econ. 2010 Nov;19(11):1281-99 - PubMed
  13. J Adolesc Health. 2010 Jun;46(6):600-2 - PubMed
  14. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010 Jul;36(4):208-13 - PubMed
  15. J Adolesc Health. 2010 Dec;47(6):564-74 - PubMed
  16. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2011 Mar;4(1):42-56 - PubMed
  17. Inj Prev. 2012 Aug;18(4):253-8 - PubMed
  18. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012 Jan 27;61(3):46-51 - PubMed
  19. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2015 Apr;16(2):111-35 - PubMed
  20. AIDS. 2014 Jun 19;28(10):1393-7 - PubMed
  21. Am J Public Health. 2014 May;104(5):938-45 - PubMed
  22. J Res Adolesc. 2014 Jun 1;24(2):204-219 - PubMed
  23. Am J Community Psychol. 2014 Dec;54(3-4):243-50 - PubMed
  24. J Drug Issues. 2013 Apr;43(2):154-163 - PubMed
  25. Vulnerable Child Youth Stud. 2014;9(2):139-150 - PubMed
  26. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2014 Sep;44:120-126 - PubMed
  27. Soc Work. 1996 May;41(3):251-7 - PubMed
  28. J Stud Alcohol. 1997 May;58(3):280-90 - PubMed

Publication Types

Grant support