Strong family-school links help prevent substance use among trans youth

According to a new study, support from families and schools to support networks is key to preventing transgender youth from smoking cigarettes and using marijuana.

Transgender youth reported experiencing an average of 11 out of 29 types of violence, including bullying, badual or physical abuse, cyberbullying, badual harbadment and discrimination.

The study was conducted by SARAVYC scientists (Stigma and Resilience among Vulnerable Youth) from the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia.

Youth who reported high levels of two protective factors, such as a family supporting their child and a safe school, had much lower substance use probabilities than those with only one protective factor or none. .

They also badyzed data from 323 transgender youth aged 14 to 18 who participated in the 2014 Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey.

Among transgender youth who reported being abused, those with no family support or caring friends had a 61% chance of smoking. But this probability fell to only 20% among those who had family and supportive friends.

In addition, youth who reported having close family ties were about 88% less likely to report having smoked cannabis last month, compared to those reporting less strong family ties. For transgender teens with close ties to family and school, the probability of marijuana use dropped to only 2%.

SARAVYC's lead investigator and executive director of the study said, "Transgender youth in Canada face unacceptable levels of violence, which contributes to substance abuse. However, our research has shown that even when transgender youth face high levels of violence or discrimination, a supportive family and a safe school make the difference. "

Lead author Ryan Watson, an badistant professor at the University of Connecticut, said, "These findings suggest that families and supportive schools are integral to preventing youth substance use. transgender. While we must work to reduce the stigma and violence against trans youth, our findings also highlight the important role of adults and supportive friends. Attentive adults at home and at school are just as essential for our transbadual teens as for all young people. "

The research, published in Preventive Medicine Reports, was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the US National Institute on Drug Abuse.