Violence and Rural Teens: Teen Violence, Drug Use, and School-Based Prevention Services in Rural America

• NCJ Number: 232140
• Author(s): Michael D. Mink, Ph.D., M.P.A.; Charity G. Moore, Ph.D., MSPH; Andy Johnson, M.P.H.; Janice C. Probst, Ph.D.; Amy Martin, DrPH
• Date Published: March 2005
• Length: 87 pages
• Grant Number(s): 6 U1C RH 00045-04
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Corporate Author: South Carolina Rural Health Research Ctr
• Sale Source: South Carolina Rural Health Research Ctr
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored the prevalence of exposure to violence among rural and minority teens and compared the availability of mental health services between rural and urban schools.

Abstract

Highlights of study findings include: (1) no evidence to support the common assumption that rural youth are protected from exposure to violence; (2) rural teens are at significantly greater risk of using drugs than both suburban and urban teens; (3) racial differences for exposure to violence and drug use are negligible among rural teens; (4) exposures to violence and drug use vary by gender among rural teens; (5) rural schools offer somewhat fewer teen violence services than urban schools; (6) mental health care staff in rural schools are available for fewer hours, have fewer hiring requirements, and receive training for fewer teen violence services than urban schools; and (7) overall, rural schools report fewer policies and security practices that prevent violence and drug use than do urban schools. As a result of study findings, policy recommendations were provided in the areas of: (1) quality of violence-related services; (2) school-based health centers and school-physician partnerships; (3) technology; (4) community-based programs; (5) school policies; and (6) State offices of rural health. This study had three main purposes: (1) to explore the prevalence of violence-related exposures and drug use among rural teens, (2) to investigate the effects of race and gender on the risk of exposure to violence and drug use, and (3) to compare the policies and mental health care services of rural and urban schools. Tables, figures, and appendixes A-D