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Tobacco Use Among African-American Youth Receiving Behavioral Healthcare Services

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Abstract

African-American youth with behavioral health problems may be particularly vulnerable to tobacco use and dependence; however, little is known about overall prevalence and factors associated with tobacco use in this population. The present study compared rates of tobacco use for African-Americans (aged 13–17) receiving behavioral healthcare services to state and national prevalence rates. In addition, we examined whether tobacco use prevalence was related to treatment characteristics and services rendered. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted at an urban, public behavioral healthcare agency for youth admitted in 2009. Tobacco use rates among African-Americans receiving behavioral healthcare services were similar to, and in some cases, higher than statewide and national prevalence rates. While tobacco users were more likely to be enrolled in a substance abuse program than in a mental health program, only 2 of 55 youth reporting tobacco use had received documented tobacco cessation treatment. Future work should focus on implementing tobacco cessation prevention and treatment for these youth.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by a grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, #8520666. The authors would also like to thank the behavioral healthcare agency involved in this study for providing access to client information and assisting with the project.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980310, Richmond, VA, 23298-0310, USA

    Alison B. Breland PhD & J. Randy Koch PhD

  2. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284-2018, USA

    Aashir Nasim PhD

  3. Department of Psychology, James Madison University, MSC 7704, 800 S. Main St, Harrisonburg, VA, 22807, USA

    Jessica G. Irons PhD

Authors
  1. Alison B. Breland PhD
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  2. Aashir Nasim PhD
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  3. Jessica G. Irons PhD
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  4. J. Randy Koch PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alison B. Breland PhD.

Additional information

This research was performed at Virginia Commonwealth University, Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, 1112 East Clay Street, Suite B-08, Richmond, VA 23298.

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Breland, A.B., Nasim, A., Irons, J.G. et al. Tobacco Use Among African-American Youth Receiving Behavioral Healthcare Services. J Behav Health Serv Res 40, 88–96 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-012-9315-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-012-9315-x

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