Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 30, Issue 3 , Pages 175-183, March 2002

The relationship between smoking, drinking, and adolescents’ self-perceived health and frequency of hospitalization: analyses from the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

  • Patrick B Johnson, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Patrick B. Johnson, Ph.D., The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, 633 Third Avenue, 19th floor, New York, NY USA 10017-6706
    • Health and Treatment Research and Analysis division of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, New York, New York, USA (P.B.J.)
    • ,
  • Linda Richter, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Policy Research and Analysis division (L.R.), of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, New York, New York USA

Accepted 15 August 2001.

Abstract 

Purpose: To investigate the more immediate health effects of smoking and drinking among adolescents.

Methods: Secondary analyses of data from the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse were conducted to explore the relationship between subjective and objective health outcomes and the use of alcohol and tobacco among adolescents.

Results: The findings suggest that adolescents who smoke or drink actually report poorer health during adolescence than those who do not. In fact, adolescents who are frequent or heavy alcohol and tobacco users report poorer subjective overall health and a greater number of overnight hospital stays during the previous year than less frequent or intense users and than nonusers. In addition, the data revealed a number of significant gender and age group differences in reports of health outcome as well.

Conclusions: Demonstrating to youngsters the more immediate, negative health consequences of alcohol and tobacco use might strengthen prevention messages and ultimately decrease the use of these substances among adolescents.

Keywords:  Adolescent, Alcohol, Consequences, Drinking, Gender differences, Health, Smoking, Tobacco

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PII: S1054-139X(01)00317-2

Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 30, Issue 3 , Pages 175-183, March 2002

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