The Role of Acculturation and Alcohol Problems on Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Latinas at Risk of an Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancy.

Background: Along with alcohol, cannabis is one of the most commonly used substances among women of childbearing age. Recent studies indicate detrimental effects of prenatal cannabis use. Because many women use these substances before realizing they are pregnant, these serious health consequences for women and their offspring are of great concern. Despite the recent upsurge in cannabis use, little is known about individual and sociocultural factors that may contribute to risk of a cannabis-exposed pregnancy, particularly among Latinas of child-bearing age also at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP). Objectives: Examine the relationships of acculturation, alcohol use, alcohol problems, and psychological distress with frequency of cannabis use among adult Latinas at risk of an AEP. Methods: The hypothesized model included 76 Latinas and was analyzed using path analysis. The study used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of an intervention targeting risky drinking and tobacco use among women at risk of an AEP in primary care clinics. Results: Greater acculturation was associated with more frequent cannabis use and greater psychological distress. There was a positive indirect relationship between acculturation and alcohol use and alcohol problems through psychological distress. Greater alcohol problems were associated with more frequent cannabis use. Greater psychological distress and alcohol use were indirectly related to more frequent cannabis use through alcohol problems. Conclusions: Findings underscore the critical role of acculturation and alcohol-related problems in cannabis use frequency and have relevant implications for preventive efforts addressing cannabis use among Latinas at risk of an AEP.

Preventing Alcohol and Tobacco Exposed Pregnancies: CHOICES Plus in Primary Care.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol and tobacco use are common among U.S. women, yet if used during pregnancy these substances present significant preventable risks to prenatal and perinatal health. Because use of alcohol and tobacco often continue into the first trimester and beyond, especially among women with unintended pregnancies, effective evidence-based approaches are needed to decrease these risk behaviors. This study was designed to test the efficacy of CHOICES Plus, a preconception intervention for reducing the risk of alcohol- and tobacco-exposed pregnancies (AEPs and TEPs). STUDY DESIGN: RCT with two intervention groups: CHOICES Plus (n=131) versus Brief Advice (n=130). Data collected April 2011 to October 2013. Data analysis finalized February 2016. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Settings were 12 primary care clinics in a large Texas public healthcare system. Participants were women who were non-sterile, non-pregnant, aged 18-44 years, drinking more than three drinks per day or more than seven drinks per week, sexually active, and not using effective contraception (N=261). Forty-five percent were smokers. INTERVENTION: Interventions were two CHOICES Plus sessions and a contraceptive visit or Brief Advice and referral to community resources. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were reduced risk of AEP and TEP through 9-month follow-up. RESULTS: In intention-to-treat analyses across 9 months, the CHOICES Plus group was more likely than the Brief Advice group to reduce risk of AEP with an incidence rate ratio of 0.620 (95% CI=0.511, 0.757) and absolute risk reduction of -0.233 (95% CI=-0.239, -0.226). CHOICES Plus group members at risk for both exposures were more likely to reduce TEP risk (incidence rate ratio, 0.597; 95% CI=0.424, 0.840 and absolute risk reduction, -0.233; 95% CI=-0.019, -0.521). CONCLUSIONS: CHOICES Plus significantly reduced AEP and TEP risk. Addressing these commonly co-occurring risk factors in a single preconception program proved both feasible and efficacious in a low-income primary care population. Intervening with women before they become pregnant could shift the focus in clinical practice from treatment of substance-exposed pregnancies to prevention of a costly public health concern. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT01032772.

What African-American middle school youth report about risk-taking behaviors.

INTRODUCTION: African-American youth represent the heaviest burden for HIV in all U.S. ethnic groups. The risk assessment was conducted with a group of suburban and urban African-American middle school children prior to the implementation of a faith-based substance abuse and HIV prevention program. The purpose of the study on risk-taking was to examine the sample's level and predictors of social adaptation and risk-taking processes and to examine their ideas about risk and risk-taking behavior. METHODS: A correlation design was used to determine relationships between risky behaviors and scores for risk taking and social adaptation. A descriptive design guided open-ended questions about risk and risk-taking behaviors. Data were collected in two youth ministries. The nonprobability sample consisted of 45 male and female subjects in the suburban pre-intervention group and 39 male and female subjects in the urban comparison group. RESULTS: Findings include a statistically significant relationship between male gender and alcohol use and risk-taking scores in the suburban pre-intervention group; in addition, sexual activity and drug use were predictive of higher risk-taking scores in the urban comparison group. The urban comparison group also reported significantly higher risk-taking behaviors than did the suburban group. DISCUSSION: Data from this study suggest the need for substance abuse and HIV prevention programs for middle school youth before problem behaviors become established.