Schedule:
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Columbia A/B (Hyatt Regency Washington)
* noted as presenting author
Lisa Wegner, PhD, Professor, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Joachim Jacobs, MS, Lecturer, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Elizabeth Hall Weybright, PhD, Visiting Lecturer, Indiana University, University Park, PA
Phylicia T Bediako, BSPH, Graduate Student, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Linda Lee Caldwell, PhD, Professor, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Edward Allan Smith, PhD, Director, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
John W. Graham, PhD, Professor, Penn State University, University Park, PA
Linda M. Collins, PhD, Director of Methodology Center, Penn State University, State College, PA
Tania Vergnani, PhD, Director, Professor, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Catherine Mathews, PhD, Chief Specialist Scientist, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
Previous studies have found that methamphetamine use is associated with an increased risk of violence and committing criminal acts. However, most of these studies have been conducted in North America or Australia. In South Africa, methamphetamine (MA) use by adolescents is increasingly problematic. Lifetime use among high school students in Cape Town is estimated at between 9 to 12%. One quarter of patients admitted to Cape Town’s substance abuse treatment centres with methamphetamine as their primary drug are under the age of 20 years. Just over half of these users reported daily use. Previous studies of methamphetamine use in South Africa have tended to focus on the association between methamphetamine use and sexual risk behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between methamphetamine use and anti-social behaviour including violence and criminal behaviour in a sample of high school students in Cape Town.
Data for this study were collected via self-report from youth at the beginning (W1) and end (W2) of 8th grade attending 56 secondary schools in Cape Town. Youth who reported on MA use and antisocial behavior at both waves were retained for analysis (N=3565, 54% female). MA users were categorized based on stability or change in use from W1 to W2. Four categories include: stable non-user (92%), changing from user to non-user (3%), changing from non-user to user (3%), and stable user (2%). Antisocial behavior included four items measuring bullying, interpersonal violence, property damage, breaking and entering, and theft. Logistic regression was used to compare change in MA use based on antisocial behavior, gender, and race using the stable non-user as the reference class.
Results indicate race, gender, interpersonal violence, property damage, breaking and entering, and theft were all significant predictors. As compared to the stable non-user, all other user groups were less likely to be Coloured (i.e., mixed race) and the non-user to user group and stable user group were more likely to be male. The user to non-user group was less likely to engage in interpersonal violence (OR=0.45). The non-user to user group was more likely to damage property (OR=2.6) and steal (OR=2.7). The stable user group was more likely to break and enter (OR=2.9) and steal (OR=3.2).
Findings provide support for school-based programs and policies aimed at preventing substance use to also address violence and antisocial behaviour as part of a comprehensive approach to reducing risk behavior.
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