Substance use prevention research funded by the NIH.

Background: Substance use is a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides public funding to advance understanding on the causes of substance use disorders and apply that knowledge to improve public health through research that develops new and improved strategies to prevent substance use.

Relationship between a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded HIV testing initiative and past-year testing by race/ethnicity: a multilevel analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) expanded testing initiative (ETI) aims to bolster HIV testing among populations disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic by providing additional funding to health departments serving these communities. ETI prioritizes testing in clinical settings; therefore, we examined the relationship between state-level ETI participation and past-year HIV testing among a racially/ethnically diverse sample of adult respondents to the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System who accessed health services within the 12 months prior to being interviewed. Controlling for individual- and state-level characteristics in a multilevel logistic regression model, ETI participation was independently and positively associated with past-year testing, but this association varied by race/ethnicity.

Trends in HIV Testing Among U.S. Older Adults Prior to and Since Release of CDC's Routine HIV Testing Recommendations: National Findings from the BRFSS.

Objective: This study examined temporal trends in HIV testing among U.S. older adults (50-64 years of age) before and after the release of CDC's routine HIV testing recommendations in 2006.

Recent HIV Testing Prevalence, Determinants, and Disparities Among U.S. Older Adult Respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Background: Although routine human immune deficiency virus (HIV) testing during health care visits is recommended for most adults, many older adults (i.e., ages 50-64 years) do not receive it.

Substance use, generation and time in the United States: the modifying role of gender for immigrant urban adolescents.

Although immigrant youth have lower rates of substance use than US born youth, whether substance use varies by generation and time in the US is unclear. This study examines adolescent alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use by generation/time in US (i.e.

Racial/ethnic disparities in patterns and determinants of criminal justice involvement among youth in substance abuse treatment programs.

Adolescent substance abuse is a criminal behavior; however, not all criminal behaviors result in criminal justice involvement. This study examined disparities among adolescents aged 12 to 17 admitted to substance abuse treatment nationwide. Findings indicate significant disparities in patterns and determinants of criminal justice involvement between White and minority adolescents.

A conceptual framework for studying alcohol intake and blood pressure on historically black college and university campuses.

Drinking increases the risk of elevated blood pressure, a risk factor for chronic ailments such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The experience of elevated blood pressure in young adulthood may be critical for the development of these diseases later in life. College campuses are venues replete with young adults, and drinking is a popular activity in these settings.

Mental health, substance abuse, and HIV disparities in correctional settings: practice and policy implications for African Americans.

Mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and HIV/AIDS disproportionately affect Black people in correctional settings. Culturally responsive practice and equitable policy is predicated upon research that explores the burden, prevalence, and mortality of these public health concerns on the health and social well-being of African Americans in the correctional setting. This paper has three sections: (1) mental health; (2) substance abuse; and (3) HIV/AIDS.

Social status, gender and alcohol-related problems: the black young adult experience.

Objectives: Using data from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, this study examined prevalence of drinking and related problems among five racial/ethnic groups aged 18-30.

Design: Logistic regression analyses examined influences of gender and social status on alcohol-related problems among blacks, controlling for demographics.

Results: Black drinkers were significantly less likely to be high-risk or risky/heavy episodic drinkers than all groups except Asians; and experienced lower prevalence of alcohol-related problems than whites and American Indians.

Disparities in the patterns and determinants of HIV risk behaviors among adolescents entering substance abuse treatment programs.

Background: Black youth are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study examined disparities in patterns and determinants of sexual risk behaviors among black and white adolescents in substance abuse treatment programs.

Methods: We used pooled clinical data collected from 4,565 sexually active 12-17-year-old black (29.

Country of origin, age of drinking onset, and drinking patterns among Mexican American young adults.

This study examines relationships between country of origin, age of drinking onset, and adverse drinking outcomes among young adult Mexican Americans in the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Logistic regression models estimate associations between age of drinking onset, age of onset in relation to age at immigration, and adverse drinking outcomes, controlling for sex, age, employment, education, marital status, and income. Adjusted analyses indicate the odds of adverse drinking outcomes decreased as age of drinking onset increased.

Windows of opportunity: fundamental concepts for understanding alcohol-related disparities experienced by young Blacks in the United States.

This paper presents a theoretical framework for conceptualizing alcohol-related disparities experienced by young Blacks in the United States. The framework highlights areas of risk and opportunity as they relate to the development of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. In this paper, life course development theory serves as a guide for identifying a critical period in the development of alcohol-related disparities and it serves to guide the identification of opportunities to prevent or attenuate this health outcome.