Patterns of mean age at drug use initiation by race and ethnicity, 2004-2019

Karl C Alcover; Abram J Lyons; Solmaz Amiri

doi:10.1016/j.josat.2024.209350

Patterns of mean age at drug use initiation by race and ethnicity, 2004-2019

J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2024 Mar 15:161:209350. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209350. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Karl C Alcover¹, Abram J Lyons², Solmaz Amiri³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, MD, USA. Electronic address: karl.alcover@usuhs.edu.
² School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
³ Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, WA, USA.

PMID: 38494055
DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209350

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent drug use can result in clinically significant psychiatric outcomes later in life mitigated by targeted prevention strategies. While mean age of drug initiation has increased over time, there is little research of mean age of drug initiation among adolescents by race/ethnicity.

Methods: The study used the National Survey on Drug Use and Health data (2004-2019). Sample included individuals aged 12 to 21 years. Year-by-year drug use initiation (i.e., first-time use within the past year) trends examined for each drug by race/ethnicity using jointpoint regression.

Results: Sample included 95,022 initiates for any of 18 drugs. Year-by-year mean initiation age significantly increased for alcohol (except Non-Hispanic [NH] White, 2004-2012), tobacco cigarettes (except NH American Indian/Alaska Native [AI/AN]), cigars, marijuana (except NH Asian or Pacific Islander, NH Multiracial), cocaine (except NH Black). Significant increase in mean initiation age found for heroin (Hispanic/Latinx only), hallucinogens (NH White, NH Black only), LSD (NH White only), methamphetamines (NH White only), smokeless tobacco (NH White, NH Black only), inhalants (only NH White, NH AI/AN; NH Multiracial, 2004-2011), sedatives (NH White, Hispanic/Latinx only), stimulants (NH White, Hispanic/Latinx only), and ecstasy (NH White, NH Black, Hispanic/Latinx only). Significant decrease in mean initiation age found for alcohol (only NH White, 2013-2019), smokeless tobacco (only Hispanic/Latinx, 2015-2019; NH AI/AN, 2012-2019), and inhalants (only NH Multiracial, 2012-2019).

Conclusion: Mean initiation age differed widely by race/ethnicity. Mean initiation age in most racial/ethnic groups increased for several drugs including alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco products and decreased for some drugs such as inhalants. These findings could help inform groups to target for future prevention strategies.

Keywords: Adolescent; Drug initiation; National Survey on Drug Use and Health; Race and ethnicity.