Substance use and dietary practices among students attending alternative high schools: results from a pilot study

A convenience sample of adolescents (n = 145; 61% minority, 52% male) attending six alternative high schools in the St Paul/Minneapolis metropolitan area completed baseline surveys. Students were participants in the Team COOL (Controlling Overweight and Obesity for Life) pilot study, a group randomized obesity prevention pilot trial. Mixed model multivariate analyses procedures were used to assess associations of interest.Daily cigarette smoking was reported by 36% of students. Cigarette smoking was positively associated with consumption of regular soda (p = 0.019), high-fat foods (p = 0.037), and fast food restaurant use (p = 0.002). Alcohol (p = 0.005) and marijuana use (p = 0.035) were positively associated with high-fat food intake. With increasing numbers of substances, a positive trend was observed in high-fat food intake (p = 0.0003). There were no significant associations between substance use and fruit and vegetable intake.Alternative high school students who use individual substances as well as multiple substances may be at high risk of unhealthful dietary practices. Comprehensive health interventions in alternative high schools have the potential of reducing health-compromising behaviors that are prevalent among this group of students. This study adds to the limited research examining substance use and diet among at-risk youth.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01315743Substance use and poor dietary practices are prevalent among adolescents [1,2]. In the general population, substance abuse is strongly correlated with violent behavior, weapon carrying in school, motor vehicle accidents, unintended pregnancy, and HIV [3-9], which are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in youth. Recent national data indicate that almost one half of adolescents have smoked cigarettes [1] in their lifetime. Among 12th grade students, about 42% have tried marijuana and almost three out of four consumed alcohol in their lifetime [2].An unhealthful diet can compound the health eff