“Inhalant Use Among Rural Children: A Multicultural Study” (PI: Edwards, R.W.; NIDA; $1,493,077)

This project examined the prevalence of inhalant use among adolescents in rural ethnic minority and non-minority communities, including the investigation of family, school, peer, community, and cultural factors. In addition to collection of individual level data from both children and parents, communities were assessed for their readiness to engage in inhalant prevention using the Community Readiness Model. The findings of the study were utilized to develop a compendium of inhalant prevention resources, materials, and strategies appropriate for use in rural and ethnic minority communities.

Key findings: Secondary analysis of 36,343 7 th and 8 th grade students from the Southeastern and Western U.S. found that the highest levels of inhalant use were reported by Mexican American youth, followed by white and African American youth. However, results varied depending on rurality, community ethnicity, and gender. Urban Mexican American students are more likely to use inhalants than their rural counterparts. Among white students, those living in remote and rural communities in the southeast are substantially more likely to use inhalants than their counterparts in the southeast who live in urban areas. No significant differences were found for White students by level of rurality who lived in the Western U.S.

Parents of 4 th-6 th grade students, across ethnicities, displayed a lack of knowledge about inhalants and how to prevent their use. However, at the same time, based on focus group studies, they were very eager to obtain this information. Using the Community Readiness Model, it was found that readiness to address inhalant use by youth was relatively low across ethnicities, with no communities in the sample scoring above Stage 4 (Preplanning). American Indian and rural white non-Hispanic communities were slightly more advanced in readiness than rural African American, Asian American and Mexican American communities.

More details of this project can be found under School Resources