A MULTIVARIATE LOOK AT DRUG DEALING AMONG MULTI-PROBLEM FEMALE YOUTH IN THE US, CY2003.

J. Ode, C.F. Rios, J.C. Anthony

Michigan State University (Epidemiology; Kinesiology), East Lansing , MI

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A November 2004 SAMHSA report on delinquent behaviors of female youths, based on CY2003 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), observed that 2%-3% of female youths had recently sold illegal drugs. To extend this epidemiological research on drug dealing, which treated each CP 1-by1, we conducted latent class analyses (LCA) of the same data, and offer a multivariate perspective on drug dealing in context with other CP among young females.  

METHODS: Data are from public use files of NSDUH2003; 8,759 12-17 yr old community-dwelling females were sampled and answered standardized questions on six recently active CP: serious fighting (SF), group-fighting (GF), serious attack on others (SA), stealing something worth > $50 (S$50), dealing illegal drugs (DD), carrying handguns (CH).

RESULTS: LCA analyses, via LatentGold software, disclosed a three-class solution of best fit. There was a low prevalence multi-problem class, 1.4% of the females. Within this class, for DD and S$50, prevalence was 60%-70%; for HG, it was 40%. By comparison, in a ‘minimal problems’ class (81% of females), and a ‘fighting’ class (18% of females), the within-class prevalence of DD, S$50, and CH all were under 4%. In the small class with high DD prevalence, fighting was even more prevalent: 86% for SF; 81% for GF, and 80% for SA. In the class with fighting but no DD, the values were 75% for SF, 57% for GF, and 24% for SA. Valus for the ‘minimal problems’ class were 8% for SF, 8% for GF, and 2% for SA.

DISCUSSION: Drug dealing among female youths in the US is concentrated within a relatively low prevalence (1.4%) subgroup with multiple conduct problems; outside of that subgroup, DD, S$50, and CH occur rarely. It is notable that 80% of this small subgroup also engages in gang or group fighting. Plans for public health and safety interventions to reduce diffusion of youthful drug use, it will be important to understand female drug dealing in this multivariate context.

SUPPORT: NIDA D43TW005819, T32 DA07292, K05DA015799, MSU research funds.