Identifying Competing Life Reinforcers for Substance Use in First Nation Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Indigenous youth are at increased risk of initiating substance use at early ages and suffer greater negative consequences related to substance use as compared to non-Indigenous youth. Behavioral Theories of Choice suggests that substance use is contingent on the availability of substances and the availability of alternatives to substance use. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate risk and protective factors associated with substance use in one group of First Nation adolescents. Methods: Using a modified grounded theory approach, the present study conducted qualitative focus groups and individual interviews with fifteen reserve-dwelling (75% female, M age = 15.2 years) First Nation adolescents to assess categories of risk and protective factors based upon Behavioral Theories of Choice. Results: Adolescents identified peer influences, parental/family influences, and community influences and issues as risk and protective factors associated with substance use. Conclusions: Results highlight possible targets of culturally appropriate prevention strategies for Indigenous populations.

Keywords:

• Indigenous
• adolescent
• substance use
• risk factors
• protective factors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under grant number K08DA029094.