RESUMEN
Youth engagement in substance use research is critical to the understanding of correlates that lead to detrimental health and social outcomes for adolescents. In addition to the documented challenges related to youth recruitment for substance use research, Latinx youth living on the U.S.-Mexico border may be difficult for researchers to engage in substance use research because they could face retributory harm if they identify their experiences to any entity perceived as an authority (e.g., researchers). Empirical findings that posit viable strategies to engage marginalized youth in substance use research are lacking. Participatory approaches show promise in increasing participation of historically underrepresented youth in research. Building on previously published work on our youth participatory action research mixed-methods study, this article discusses the youth-led participatory approach used to (1) develop and pilot test a culturally, regionally, and linguistically tailored substance use instrument and (2) engage 445 Latinx youth to participate in a cross-sectional study to assess epidemiological patterns of youth substance use on the U.S.-Mexico border. We share lessons learned related to the youth-led instrument design, youth-led recruitment strategy, and assuring participant confidentiality.
Asunto(s)
Investigación Participativa Basada en la Comunidad , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias , Adolescente , Estudios Transversales , Investigación sobre Servicios de Salud , Humanos , Proyectos de Investigación , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Background: Historically marginalized youth are at risk for daily substance use. Daily use may be associated with social and environmental factors. Methods: In March 2018, we surveyed primarily Latino adolescents ages 14-18 who lived on the US-Mexico border and assessed associations between daily substance use, neighborhood stress, border community and immigration stress, and family support. Results: Of 443 surveyed adolescents, 41 (9%) reported daily use. Those who used daily were more likely to be older, identify as male, and reported lower social support and higher neighborhood and border community stress compared to those who did not use daily. Perceived neighborhood stress (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.37-2.80) and border community and immigration stress (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.12-2.02) were associated with increased odds of daily substance use. Discussion: Latino adolescents who live near the US-Mexico border experience unique socioenvironmental stress which is associated with daily substance use.