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conferenceseries
.com
Volume 21
International Journal of Emergency Mental
Health and Human Resilience
ISSN: 1522-4821
Mental Health 2019
March 07-08, 2019
March 07-08, 2019 | Barcelona, Spain
5
th
International Conference on
Mental Health and Human Resilience
Towards an understanding of substance use risk and prevention factors to promote mental health and
human resilience among high school age youth
Alexander Reznik
Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
S
ubstance use was studied among 537 Israeli male (76%; n=407) and female (24%; n=130) high school youth
(M age-15.0 years) from 2013-2016. A valid and reliable data collection instrument was used. Demographic
factors used for analysis were age, gender, country of origin (e.g., Israel, former Soviet Union, and Ethiopia), and
regular or residential school status. The study aim was to understand substance risk and protection factors that
may influence resilience to prevent substance use. For the entire study cohort, findings evidence current last 30
day cigarette smoking (37.6%); alcohol use (53.9%) including binge drinking (21.0%); as well as inhalant (5.5%)
and cannabis (3.9%) use. No differences were found among the youth based on gender status. Immigrant origin
youth reported higher levels of smoking, alcohol, cannabis and inhalant use than those with Israeli origin status.
Youth in residential facilities reported higher levels of substance use than those attending regular school. Family low
socio-economic and/or immigrant status were risk factors linked to substance use among residential school youth.
For both regular and residential high school youth, the main risk factors were easy access of harmful substances
and being involved with non-structured night activity. Religiosity and good relationships with family members and
friends were protection factors for both study groups. Study findings have relevance for policy, service provision, and
the training of program personnel to promote mental health and human resilence among youth.
Biography
Alexander Reznik is Senior Research Associate of the Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, Ben Gurion University. He received his PhD from
the Russian Academy of Sciences - the Institute of Psychology, (Moscow). He has served in key education and research roles with the Far Eastern Federal
University and the Maritime State University (Russia). He is author of books and scientific publications on substance abuse among high risk populations
including issues of immigration, school dropout and acculturation. His research interests include multicultural aspects of substance abuse, resilience factors of
substance abuse and statistical methods in addictology.
reznikal@bgu.ac.ilAlexander Reznik, Int J Emerg Ment Health 2019, Volume 21
DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821-C1-027