A longitudinal study of substance use and violent victimization in adulthood among a cohort of urban African Americans

Addiction. 2012 Feb;107(2):339-48. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03665.x.

Abstract

Aims: This paper examines the effects of experiencing violent victimization in young adulthood on pathways of substance use from adolescence to mid-adulthood.

Design: Data come from four assessments of an African American community cohort followed longitudinally from age 6 to 42 years.

Setting: The cohort lived in the urban, disadvantaged Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago in 1966.

Participants: All first graders from the public and parochial schools were asked to participate (n = 1242).

Measurement: Dependent variables-alcohol, marijuana and cocaine use-came from self-reports at age 42. Young adult violent victimization was reported at age 32, as were acts of violence, substance use, social integration and socio-economic resources. First grade risk factors came from mothers' and teachers' reports; adolescent substance use was self-reported.

Findings: Structural equation models indicate a pathway from adolescent substance use to young adult violent victimization for females and those who did not grow up in extreme poverty (betas ranging from 0.15 to 0.20, P < 0.05). In turn, experiencing violent victimization in young adulthood increased alcohol, marijuana and cocaine use, yet results varied by gender and early poverty status (betas ranging from 0.12 to 0.15, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Violent victimization appears to play an important role in perpetuating substance use among the African American population. However, within-group variations are evident, identifying those who are not raised in extreme poverty as the most negatively affected by violence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Chicago / epidemiology
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Urban Health
  • Violence / psychology*
  • Young Adult