Afrocentric Norms and Substance Use Behaviors Among Black Young Adults.

Despite not displaying higher overall rates of substance use compared to White Americans, the social consequences of substance use disorders for Black Americans, particularly among Black American men, are more damaging. Furthermore, recent data suggest an uptick in substance use-related deaths among Black Americans, raising serious concerns about a growing health disparity that warrants the need for studies to identify factors associated with prevention. For decades, Black cultural theorists have argued that Afrocentric norms are important buffers against maladaptive behaviors in Black Americans, but the association in the context of substance use is still an emerging area. The present study investigated the associations between Afrocentric norms, Afrocentric self-regard, internalized negative stereotypes, and substance use attitudes and behaviors among Black young adults. Self-report questionnaires were administered to measure internalized negative stereotypes, Afrocentric norms, Afrocentric self-regard, substance use attitudes, and substance use from a sample of Black young adults (N = 619). Favorable attitudes toward substance use were found to be positively associated with internalized negative stereotypes but were inversely associated with Afrocentric norms and Afrocentric self-regard. Similarly, substance use reports within the past 30 days were inversely associated with Afrocentric norms, but the relationship to cannabis use was non-significant. Gender differences between Black men and women were also found. Implications for social work are discussed.

Eating disorder symptoms and comorbid mental health risk among teens recruited to a digital intervention research study via two online approaches.

INTRODUCTION: It is crucial to identify and evaluate feasible, proactive ways to reach teens with eating disorders (EDs) who may not otherwise have access to screening or treatment. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of recruiting teens with EDs to a digital intervention study via social media and a publicly available online ED screen, and to compare the characteristics of teens recruited by each approach in an exploratory fashion. METHOD: Teens aged 14-17 years old who screened positive for a clinical/subclinical ED or at risk for an ED and who were not currently in ED treatment completed a baseline survey to assess current ED symptoms, mental health comorbidities, and barriers to treatment. Bivariate analyses were conducted to examine differences between participants recruited via social media and those recruited after completion of a widely available online EDs screen (i.e., National Eating Disorders Association [NEDA] screen). RESULTS: Recruitment of teens with EDs using the two online approaches was found to be feasible, with 934 screens completed and a total of 134 teens enrolled over 6 months: 77% (n = 103) via social media 23% (n = 31) via the NEDA screen. Mean age of participants (N = 134) was 16 years old, with 49% (n = 66) identifying as non-White, and 70% (n = 94) identifying as a gender and/or sexual minority. Teens from NEDA reported higher ED psychopathology scores (medium effect size) and more frequent self-induced vomiting and driven exercise (small effect sizes). Teens from NEDA also endorsed more barriers to treatment, including not feeling ready for treatment and not knowing where to find a counselor or other resources (small effect sizes). DISCUSSION: Online recruitment approaches in this study reached a large number of teens with an interest in a digital intervention to support ED recovery, demonstrating the feasibility of these outreach methods. Both approaches reached teens with similar demographic characteristics; however, teens recruited from NEDA reported higher ED symptom severity and barriers to treatment. Findings suggest that proactive assessment and intervention methods should be developed and tailored to meet the needs of each of these groups. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study examined the feasibility of recruiting teens with EDs to a digital intervention research study via social media and NEDA's online screen, and demonstrated differences in ED symptoms among participants by recruitment approach.

A Community-Engaged Approach to Understanding Suicide in a Small Rural County in Georgia: A Two-Phase Content Analysis of Individual and Focus Group Interviews.

Suicide is a significant public health problem, with disproportionate rates in rural areas. Rural communities face substantial structural and cultural barriers to suicide prevention. This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the need for suicide prevention and gauge the appropriateness of prevention efforts in the context of a rural Georgia county by leveraging existing community resources and knowledge. Twenty one-on-one, semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted, with participants recruited via purposive snowball sampling. Data analysis included qualitative deductive and inductive content analysis from individual interviews and focus groups with community stakeholders. The findings highlight how rural contexts exacerbate drivers of death by suicide and how the substantial loss of community members to suicide contributes to the ongoing crisis and reduces available support. Access to mental health care often depended on a connection to an established public system such as schools, a military base, or Veterans Administration. There were perceived gaps in crisis and post-crisis services, with participants actively trying to address these gaps and build community support through coalition building. This study contributes knowledge to contextual drivers of suicide in rural areas beyond individual-level risk factors. Community-engaged suicide prevention research in rural areas is promising, but there is a need to develop interventions to best support coalition building and capacity development.

Self-Identified Stage in Recovery and Substance-Use Behaviors among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and People with Opioid Use Disorder.

Opioid use among pregnant and postpartum women and people (PPWP) has significant health repercussions. This study explores how substance-use behaviors may vary by stage in recovery among PPWP with opioid use disorder (OUD). We recruited 29 PPWP with OUD. "High-risk" participants self-identified as "not being engaged in treatment" or "new or early in their recovery" (n = 11); "low-risk" participants self-identified as being "well-established" or "in long-term recovery" (n = 18). Participants were queried regarding sociodemographic, mental health, and drug-misuse factors; urine drug screens were collected at baseline. Univariate group comparisons between high-risk and low-risk PPWP were conducted. High-risk PPWP were more likely to self-identify as non-Hispanic African American and more likely to report current opioid use, other illicit drugs, and tobacco. High-risk PPWP had higher opioid cravings versus low-risk PPWP. High-risk PPWP were more likely to screen positive on urine tests for non-opioid drugs and on concurrent use of both non-opioid drugs and opioids versus low-risk participants. PPWP earlier in recovery are at higher-risk for opioid and other illicit drug misuse but are willing to disclose aspects of their recent use. PPWP early in recovery are an ideal population for interventions that can help facilitate recovery during the perinatal period and beyond.

Factors associated with not ready to stop using substances among adults with an unmet treatment need: findings from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health 2015-2019.

Background: A better understanding of factors associated with not ready to stop using substances may inform provider engagement with clients who have an unmet treatment need.Objectives: This study explores how treatment barriers, the number of SUD symptoms, and types of substances used are associated with not ready to stop using substances among adults with an unmet treatment need.Methods: The data came from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Eligible adults met DSM-IV criteria for substance abuse and dependence and reported an unmet need for treatment. Among our sample (N = 1,017), a majority self-identified as male (weighted 59.3%). We employed multivariable logistic regression to examine individual-level factors associated with not being ready to stop using substances.Results: About 38% of the respondents reported that they were not ready to stop using substances. Reporting access barriers (aOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.68) and attitudinal barriers (aOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.80) was associated with a lower odds of not ready to stop using. Each additional increase in SUD symptoms was associated with 23% higher odds of not being ready to stop using (aOR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.34). Having a diagnosis of alcohol and/or marijuana abuse or dependence was associated with higher odds of not being ready to stop using when compared to respondents without these diagnoses (aOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.33, 3.40; aOR = 1.82 95% CI: 1.11, 2.99).Conclusion: Not ready to stop using substances may be impacted by the type of SUD, number of SUD symptoms, and certain barriers like access and attitude to care.

Perceived racial discrimination and polysubstance use among racial/ethnic minority adolescents in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Polysubstance use among adolescents is a significant public health concern, yet most studies on adolescent substance use focus on a singular substance. This study is one of the first to investigate the association between perceived racial discrimination (PRD) in school and polysubstance use among racial/ethnic minority adolescents using a nationally representative sample. METHODS: Data was from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey. The sample included 4145 racial/ethnic minority adolescents (52.8% female). Hierarchical binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between PRD in school and polysubstance use among racial/ethnic minority adolescents. RESULTS: About 12% of racial/ethnic minority adolescents engaged in polysubstance use and 23.4% reported experiencing PRD in school sometimes/most of the time/always. Controlling for other factors, experiencing PRD in school sometimes/most of the time/always was associated with 1.52 times higher odds of polysubstance use when compared to adolescents who never experienced PRD in school (OR=1.52, p=.044, 95% CI=1.01-2.30). Cyberbullying victimization, symptoms of depression, and being emotionally abused by a parent during COVID-19 were also associated with polysubstance use. CONCLUSION: Controlling for demographic characteristics and psychosocial stressors, PRD in school was significantly associated with higher odds of polysubstance use among racial/ethnic minority adolescents. The findings of this study could inform clinicians and policymakers of the association between PRD in school and polysubstance use, which could contribute to early identification of polysubstance use among racial/ethnic minority adolescents.

How do teens with a history of suicidal behavior and self-harm interact with social media?

BACKGROUND: This study examines how engagement with depression-related social media content varies by teens who report suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) versus those who had not experienced each behavior. METHODS: Teens aged 15-17 years old (N = 93) were recruited from social media platforms from October 2016 to August 2018. Participants were asked three open-ended questions about the advantages and disadvantages of networking about depression-related content on social media. We conducted a qualitative analysis to capture themes in responses by question item. Univariate analyses were conducted to compare differences in the frequency of themes endorsed among the behavioral groups versus their counterparts. RESULTS: Among participants (female, 73%; non-White, 45%; sexual minority, 57%), most (93%, n = 87) endorsed depressive symptoms. Sixty-five percent (n = 60) endorsed suicidal ideation within the past year, who were more likely to indicate unhelpful social interactions (p = .02) as a disadvantage of following depression content than peers who did not endorse suicidal ideation within the past year. Eighty percent (n = 74) endorsed lifetime experience of NSSI, who were more likely to indicate negative impact on relationships (p = .01) from posting depression content than peers who did not experience NSSI. Fifty-eight percent (n = 54) endorsed a lifetime suicide attempt, who were more likely to mention offering solutions (p = .03) to someone posting concerning content than peers who did not endorse a lifetime suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides diverse and unique perspectives on how engagement with depression-related social media varies by mental health behaviors and informs the use of social media for recruitment and outreach for teens.

Association between Sexual Violence Victimization and Electronic Vaping Product Use among Adolescents: Findings from a Population-based Study.

BACKGROUND: Although studies have investigated the association between sexual violence (SV) victimization and substance use, few studies have examined the association between SV victimization and electronic vaping product (EVP) use among adolescents in the United States. The objective of this study was to examine the cross-sectional association between SV victimization and EVP use among adolescents. METHODS: Data were pooled from the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 28,135 adolescents (51.2% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated was EVP use, and the main explanatory variable was SV victimization. RESULTS: Of the 28,135 adolescents, the prevalence of past 30-day EVP use and SV victimization was 22.7% and 10.8%, respectively. Controlling for other factors, adolescents who experienced SV had 1.52 times higher odds of being EVP users when compared to their counterparts who did not experience SV (AOR = 1.52, p < .001, 95% CI = 1.27-1.82). Other factors associated with EVP use included cyberbullying victimization, symptoms of depression, and current use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing SV was associated with EVP use. Future studies that employ longitudinal designs may offer more insight into the mechanisms underlying the association between SV victimization and EVP use. In addition, school-based interventions that focus on sexual violence prevention and reducing substance use among adolescents are warranted.

Principal component regression analysis of familial psychiatric histories and suicide risk factors among adults with opioid use disorder.

This study explores familial psychiatric risk factors that are closely linked to suicide risk among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) as measured by the Family History Assessment Module (FHAM). Data was derived from adults diagnosed with OUD (N = 389). To analyze the covariance between the 11 items of the FHAM, principal component analysis was applied to infer principal components (PC) scores. Log-binominal regression was conducted to quantify the associations between PC scores and mental health symptoms (e.g., lifetime suicidal attempt, P30D suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety). Analyses revealed that the first 3 three PCs could account for 56% of the total variance of the FHAM items within the data. Family history of substance misuse (PC1) was positively associated with lifetime suicide attempts and severe anxiety. Family history of serious mental illness (PC2) and of suicidal behavior (PC3) were not significantly associated with any outcomes. Our findings suggest current suicide risk is associated with an array of familial psychiatric issues among people with OUD. However, family history of suicide attempts and death by suicide has less bearing on current suicide risk in OUD patients whereas family history of substance use confers significant risk. Findings underscore suicide-related preventive interventions as necessary components of treatment plans among people with OUD, who commonly report family histories of substance misuse.

An Examination of Suicidal Behavior among Black College Students with Exposure to Police Violence.

There is limited research about suicidal behaviors among Black emerging adults (peak age of suicide risk) who report exposure to police violence. The current study applies an integrated approach to examine individual, immediate environment, and community-based risk and protective factors of suicide among Black college students who reported previous exposure to police violence. A purposive sample of Black college students (N = 300) was analyzed using bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression. Outcome variables investigated were lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. Twenty-eight percent of participants reported lifetime suicidal ideation and 14 percent reported lifetime attempts. Female students were significantly more likely to report lifetime suicidal ideation and recent symptoms of anxiety and to engage in emotional social support than male peers. Logistic regression results demonstrated that higher income and greater depression symptoms were associated with lower reporting of lifetime suicidal ideation. Reporting of more grit, the trait of perseverance and passion for long-term goals, was associated with a lower reporting of both lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. Findings have implications for how social workers in higher education are encouraged to address suicidal behavior among Black students, including the cultivation of grit.

Excessive screen time behaviors and cognitive difficulties among adolescents in the United States: Results from the 2017 and 2019 national youth risk behavior survey.

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of digital media by young people has generated speculations that their excessive use may have deleterious cognitive effects. Previous studies examining the association between screen time and cognitive deficits in youth have yielded mixed conclusions. We study this association using a nationally representative sample of school going adolescents in the United States. METHODS: We queried data from the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 17,076 adolescents was analyzed using binary logistic regression. Outcome variable was cognitive difficulties (difficulty in concentrating, remembering, or making decisions), and the explanatory variable was excessive screen-time behaviors. RESULTS: Of the 17,076 adolescents, about one in three (34.1%) had cognitive difficulties, and 45% of adolescents engaged in excessive screen-time behaviors on an average school day. After adjusting for covariates, the odds were 1.28 times higher for adolescents who engaged in excessive screen-time behaviors to report serious cognitive difficulties compared to adolescents who did not engage in excessive screen-time behaviors (AOR = 1.28, p < .001, 95% CI = 1.18-1.40). CONCLUSION: Study results support the association between excessive screen behaviors and cognitive difficulties in adolescence. Findings of this study are discussed with implications for practice and research.

Opioid Use Disorder and COVID-19: Treatment and Recovery Factors among Vulnerable Populations at the Intersection of Two U.S. Epidemics.

Social inequities made some sociodemographic groups - including those of older age, minoritized race/ethnicity, and low socioeconomic status - disproportionately vulnerable to morbidity and mortality associated with the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. Given shared vulnerability to these public health crises, it is critical to understand how COVID-19 impacts substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery among people with these characteristics. The current study examined COVID-19's perceived impact on treatment factors and psychosocial outcomes by sociodemographic vulnerability. Patients receiving SUD treatment with a history of opioid misuse were recruited. Participants completed self-report questionnaires regarding the impact of COVID-19 on treatment indicators and mood and substance use symptoms. Most participants reported that COVID-19 decreased their treatment access and quality. There were no sociodemographic differences in treatment factors. Those with high sociodemographic vulnerability reported greater pandemic-related increases in depression and demonstrated greater mood symptoms. Post-hoc analyses demonstrated that unmet basic needs were significantly associated with lower treatment access and quality, greater mood symptoms, and higher substance use. Findings suggest pandemic-related stressors and barriers affected those across the sociodemographic spectrum. Treatment systems must address socioeconomic barriers to care exacerbated by the pandemic and bolster integrated treatment options for opioid use and mood disorders.

Sports- and physical activity-related concussion and mental health among adolescents: Findings from the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

This study examined the association between self-reported sports- or physical activity-related concussion and symptoms of depression and suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation, having a suicide plan, and suicide attempts). This study used data from the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a biennial, school-based, nationally representative survey of U.S. students in grade levels 9 to 12 (N = 14,496). Multivariate logistical regression models assessed the association between self-reported sports-or physical activity-related concussions and suicidal behaviors among students, controlling for a range of demographic and psychosocial variables. Altogether, 13.6% of students reported a sports-or physical activity related concussion in the past 12 months. Among youth, sports-or physical activity related concussions were significantly associated with greater odds of symptoms of depression, suicidal ideation, making a suicide plan, and suicide attempts compared to other youth who did not experience sports- or physical activity-related concussion. Findings highlight increased risk for adverse mental health outcomes among students with sports-or physical activity related concussions. Providing resources for students to engage in physical activity and sports teams may help prevent the onset of depression and suicidal behaviors; however, resources must also be available to monitor any concussions related to these activities to provide support for student emotional well-being.

Use of electronic vaping products and mental health among adolescent high school students in the United States: The moderating effect of sex.

Although studies have investigated the association between conventional tobacco smoking and mental health outcomes among adolescents in the United States, few studies have examined the association between electronic vaping products (EVPs) and mental health among adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between EVPs use, symptoms of depression, and suicidal behaviors among adolescents. Data were pooled from the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 14,285 adolescents (50.3% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variables investigated were symptoms of depression, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempts, and the main explanatory variable was EVPs use. Of the 14,285 adolescents, 22.2%, 19.2%, and 58.8% were current, former and never users of EVPs, respectively. Controlling for other factors, current users of EVPs were significantly more likely to report having symptoms of depression (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.58-2.09), having suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.30-1.86), making a suicide plan (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.34-1.97), or attempting suicide (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.41-2.18) when compared to never users of EVPs. Gender moderated the association between EVPs use, symptoms of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide plan. Racial minority identity, sexual minority identity, sexual violence victimization, victim of school and cyberbullying, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking were all significantly associated with depression and suicidal behaviors. Study findings support the association between EVPs use and adolescent mental health. Future studies that employ longitudinal designs may offer more insight into the mechanisms underlying this association.

Innovating Technology-Enhanced Interventions for Youth Suicide: Insights for Measuring Implementation Outcomes.

Technology is one medium to increase youth engagement, especially among underserved and minority groups, in suicide preventive interventions. Technology can be used to supplement or adjunct an in-person intervention, guide an in-person intervention, or be the stand-alone (automated) component of the intervention. This range in technological use is now called the continuum of behavioral intervention technologies (BITs). Overall, suicide intervention researchers do not use this terminology to categorize how the role of technology differs across technology-enhanced youth interventions. There is growing recognition that technology-enhanced interventions will not create substantial public health impact without an understanding of the individual (youth, families, and providers), mezzo (clinics and health systems of care), and contextual factors (society, culture, community) that are associated with their implementation. Implementation science is the study of methods to promote uptake of evidence-based practices and policies into the broader health care system. In this review, we incorporate work from implementation science and BIT implementation to illustrate how the study of technology-enhanced interventions for youth suicide can be advanced by specifying the role of technology and measuring implementation outcomes.

Suicidal Ideation among Youths at Risk of School Dropout: Impact of Student Demographics, Stressors, and Academic Self-Concept.

In the United States, suicidal ideation is an issue for high school-age youths. Research supports that youths who have learning difficulties and who are at risk of high school dropout are at greater risk for suicidal ideation. Although alternative high schools address both student academics and emotional health, they are underused, nonclinical settings for understanding and addressing suicidal ideation. This study aimed to examine the impact of student identity, external stressors, and academic self-concept on suicidal ideation among sexual and ethnic minority and underserved students enrolled in an alternative education public high school. The student sample (N = 103) completed a onetime survey comprised of the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior, the Cultural Assessment of Risk of Suicide, the Coddington Life Events Scale for Adolescents, and the Piers Harris 2. Results of hierarchical linear regression indicated that identifying as nonheterosexual and experiencing discrimination were associated with greater student reporting of suicidal ideation. Identifying as Latino and other non-White was associated with lower reporting of suicidal ideation. Controlling for student demographics and external stressors, positive academic self-concept was associated with a lower reporting of suicidal ideation. Findings have future implications for health social work, suicide prevention and intervention, and education policy.

Hotline Use in the United States: Results from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys.

Crisis hotlines are a fixture in providing mental health services to individuals experiencing mental and behavioral problems in the United States (U.S.). Despite this, and the growing need for easily-accessible, anonymous, and free services amidst the suicide and opioid crises, there is no study reporting U.S. national prevalence and correlates of hotline use. Data on n = 18,909 participants from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES), a group of three nationally-representative, population-based studies, were used to estimate the prevalence of lifetime and past 12-month hotline use. A series of logistic regression models examined sociodemographic, clinical history and service use correlates of hotline use. Lifetime and past 12-month hotline use was estimated at 2.5% and 0.5%, respectively. Being female, having a mental or behavioral disorder, experiencing suicidality, or interacting with other formal and informal sectors of the mental health service system were significant correlates of use. This study provides the first national estimates of crisis hotline usage in the U.S. Hotlines are more likely to be used by certain sociodemographic subgroups, but these differences may be due to differing psychiatric history and service use patterns. Efforts should be made to ensure that crisis hotlines are being utilized by other marginalized populations at high risk of suicide or overdose amidst the current public health crises in the U.S., such as racial/ethnic minorities or youth. To evaluate the role that crisis hotlines play in the mental health service system, national surveys should aim to monitor trends and correlates over time.

NARRATIVES OF SUICIDALITY, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION, AND RESILIENCY: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE AND RESEARCH.

Suicidal behaviors and academic difficulties are characteristics that stigmatize youth as "bad" or "troubled" students. Alternative school programs aim to help students struggling with mental health and academic issues. This study explores how high school students make meaning of experiences of suicidality and resilience with respect to mainstream constructs of mental health, education, and identity. Three cases were selected from a sample of 44 interviews with alternative high school students: an 18-year-old White cisgender hetero-sexual male, a 17-year-old White transgender male (sexuality unspecified), and an 18-year-old Latina cisgender bisexual woman. A preliminary analysis of participant interviews with histories of severe suicidality informed this case selection. Using narrative analysis, common themes emerged: contamination versus redemption, the importance of having space, the physical experience of suicidality, and critical turning points in rejecting stigmatized identities. The findings have implications for practice and research focused on building student resiliency against suicidality.

Resilience among students at risk of dropout: Expanding perspectives on youth suicidality in a non-clinical setting.

While research supports a strong association between risk of school dropout and suicidality, this youth population remains understudied. This qualitative study addresses this gap by examining self-reported risk and protective factors among 44 alternative high school students who endorsed varying levels of suicidal ideation. Criterion sampling of Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-JR scores informed student selection for semi-structured interviews. Students were grouped by low, moderate, or high suicidal ideation scores. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate subgroup differences of suicide risk and resiliency among students at risk of dropout and offer points for prevention and intervention. School practitioners can advocate for school-based suicide preventive interventions that are tailored for students who are both at risk of suicide and academic failure.