Impact of Methamphetamine Use on Chicago Youth: A Comprehensive Report

This report examines the prevalence and impact of methamphetamine use among Chicago youth, focusing on its correlation with obesity and sexual orientation. Utilizing secondary data from sources like the YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System) between 2009 and 2019, the study investigates the association between methamphetamine use, BMI, and sexual orientation. The research highlights the higher rates of methamphetamine use among bisexual and gay men compared to heterosexual men, indicating a potential moderating effect of sexual orientation on the relationship between drug use and obesity. The report aims to determine if there is an affiliation between methamphetamine use and BMI, and vice versa, considering sexual orientation as a moderating variable. The study underscores the need for further research to understand the complex interactions between drug use, obesity, and other factors affecting the health of Chicago's youth. This report contributes to the understanding of public health issues and provides insights into potential interventions.

Running head: CHICAGO YOUTH AND METHAMPHETAMINE USE 1
CHICAGO YOUTH AND METHAMPHETAMINE USE
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Chicago Youth and Methamphetamine Use
In contrast to other key cities in the US, Chicago has the uppermost population rate of
people that suffer due to methamphetamine use and obesity. The study justifies that they are
other addition factors that have impact on the association among methamphetamine use and
BMI. Therefore, there is association amid methamphetamine use and sexual orientation. On
that note, a higher proportion of methamphetamine use was reported amid the bisexual men
(21.8%) and gay (44.5%) in contrast to the heterosexual men (7.7%) (CDC, 2018). This is
valid evidence that the affiliation amid the use of methamphetamine vary due to sexual
orientation.
Methamphetamine is characterized as an illicit substance which results in high addiction to
the central nervous system stimulant and can be administered through smoking, oral
ingestion, injection, and snorting (NIDA, 2018). The study conducted illustrates that both
drug addiction and obesity are affiliated in away thus results to the brains reward system
dysfunction among the youth in Chicago. Thus, the impact of obesity amid the youth in
Chicago was linked to the use of the lower illicit drugs in the early adulthood. On that note,
there is an intricate association amid methamphetamine use and obesity but it’s still note
viable if obesity results to the abuse methamphetamine or vice versa. Nonetheless, there is no
research that has been conducted to determine on the whether sexual orientation has impact
on the affiliation among methamphetamine use and BMI.
The significant purpose of the research is to establish whether there is an affiliation
between methamphetamine use and BMI, and vice versa. In addition, the aim of the research
is to scrutinise whether sexual orientation regulates the association amid the use
methamphetamine and BMI. Methamphetamine use and BMI will be considered as both
dependant and independent variables with the sexual orientation as moderating variable.

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The nature of the research utilized secondary data to determine the impacts of
methamphetamine use on the youth in Chicago. Additionally, a subsequent research was
conducted between 2009 -2019 by (YRBS) to determine the prevalence, increase rates and
the pattern of substance youth amid the youth in Chicago and also to establish affiliations and
the confounding factors of the association.

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References
CDC. (2018). Compare District and National Results. YRBSS Fact Sheets and Comparison
of State/District and National Results. YRBSS Results. Adolescent and School Health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm
NIDA. (2018). Methamphetamine. Drugs Facts. National Institute on Drug Abuse. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine
.

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