Hispanic middle school students more likely to partake in substance use

By Staff Writer

A new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs has found that Hispanic middle school students may be more likely to use marijuana, drink and smoke cigarettes compared to their peers of different races and ethnicities.

The study involved 5,500 seventh and eighth graders in California. Asian students were found to have the lowest rates of substance use when compared to white, Hispanic and African American children.

Researchers found that Hispanic students were more likely to have a lack of confidence in their ability to say now when presented with a substance and that some may not be aware of the negative consequences associated with drug and alcohol use.

According to the study, 26 percent of Hispanic students said they had tried alcohol at least once compared to 10 percent of Asian students.

Experts hope to use the results from the study to implement tailored programs that help educate students about the risks associated with substance use. They also hope to prompt families to become more engaged in educating their children about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, and open lines of communication that make kids feel more comfortable.