Ronald J Peters

Biographic Data

ID4889412
NAMERonald J Peters
GIVEN NAMESRonald J
FAMILY NAMEPeters
SIGNATUREPETERS R J
AFFILIATIONSThe University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
VERIFIEDNo
TOTAL WORKS27
TOTAL CITATIONS7
AUTHOR COUNT27
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR1996
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2013
H-INDEX2

  • The Social Norms and Beliefs of Teenage Male Electronic Cigarette Use

    Ronald J Peters, Angela Meshack et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2013

    Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are novel, battery-operated inhalation devices that provide warm, vaporized nicotine, and often propylene glycol, to users without the inclusion of tobacco smoke. Because men, in general, are more likely to use cigarettes and illicit drugs than women, a qualitative study was undertaken to investigate the beliefs and perceived social norms regarding this issue among 47 teenage boys who self-identified themselve…

  • Cigarette Smoking Among Jordanian Adults

    Susan Abughosh, I-Hsuan Wu et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2012

    The objectives were to determine the rate of cigarette smoking and correlates of its use among a sample of Jordanian adults (N = 600). A survey-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenient sample. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of being a cigarette smoker. Approximately half of the population (45%) had smoked a cigarette in the past month, 40% in the past week, and 36% in past 24 hours. These findings undersc…

  • Cigarette Smoking Topography Among Alternative School Youth

    Ronald J Peters, Steven H Kelder et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2012

    A paradox exists in health disparities research where African-American cigarette smokers consume fewer cigarettes per day, yet experience higher rates of tobacco-related disease compared to White American smokers. In this study we conducted focus group interviews among alternative high school youth (N = 78; age 18-19 years old) in an urban area in Southwest Texas to investigate if African-American youth smoke cigarettes differently than their Whi…

  • Beliefs and Perceived Norms Concerning Smoking Cessation Program Recruitment Among African American Teen Smokers

    Ronald J Peters, Angela Meshack et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2011

    A qualitative approach was used to investigate the beliefs and perceived norms about participation in smoking cessation programs among a sample of African American alternative school students (N = 53), aged 14 to 18 years old, in the United States who were current smokers. The authors found that the majority of participants felt that smoking cessation programs were not effective, caused smoking, or lacked activities. Both boys and girls believed …

  • Female and Relationship Devaluation among African American and Latino American Youth

    Ronald Peters, Ronald J Peters et al.ARTICLEJournal of Child & Adolescent…2010

  • The Association of Drug Use and Post-Traumatic Stress Reactions Due to Hurricane Ike Among Fifth Ward Houstonian Youth

    Ronald J Peters, Angela Meshack et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2010

    This study shows the important link between higher drug use and self-medication among youth with higher reported posttraumatic stress reactions after natural disasters. The study offers secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected on 170 predominately African American males through the Fifth Ward Enrichment program (FWEP) in Houston, Texas, between November and December 2009. Men who stated that in the last week they tried to keep from th…

  • Correlates of HIV Knowledge and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Female Military Personnel

    Open AccessE James Essien, Emmanuel Monjok et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2010

  • Potential markers of female condom use among inner city African-American Women

    Laurens Holmes, Gbadebo Ogungbade et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2008

    Despite the availability of the female condoms and theoretically based interventions to promote its use, studies have indicated a low level of acceptability of their use among women in most populations. We aimed to determine female condom use prevalence and the potential markers among African-American women. In an intervention trial to test the efficacy of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model in increasing condom use, we utilized th…

  • Smoking Cessation Recruitment Among African American Youth

    Ronald J Peters, Charles Amos et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2008

    Data on the perceived sources of cessation information and the reasons why alternative school students would attend a smoking cessation program were collected from 302 students at an alternative high school who were surveyed through the Safer Decisions Program in Houston, Texas. Data collection took place between September 2006 and January 2007. Logistic regression identified that non-smokers were more likely to believe it was important to receiv…

  • Substance Use Problems Reported by Historically Black College Students

    Warren A Rhodes, Ronald J Peters et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2008

    Using secondary data analysis,this study compares alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems experienced by African-American students attending a historically Black university who use alcohol only versus those who use alcohol plus marijuana. Results indicate that students who used marijuana plus alcohol experienced more AOD problems than their counterparts who used alcohol only. The current findings are similar to previous research with a majority Whi…

  • The Link Between Recent Sexual Abuse and Drug Use Among African American Male College Students

    Charles Amos, Ronald J Peters et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2008

    This study examined the relationship between sexual abuse in or around campus and drug use among young African-American males in college. It offers cross-sectional analysis of data collected from the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Awareness and Use Study (ASAAUS). Data collection took place in October 2004 via a self-administered survey among 181 African-American male students. Males who reported past sexual abuse in or around campus were significan…

  • Codeine Cough Syrup Use Among African-American Crack Cocaine Users

    Ronald J Peters, M Williams et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2007

    While studies show evidence of a clear problem with the prevalence of crack cocaine and codeine cough syrup use separately, the relationship between these substances of abuse and concurrent polydrug use is unknown. In an attempt to ascertain beyond anecdotal evidence, the authors carried out a cross-sectional study among 482 African-American crack users to investigate the differences between those who were concurrently codeine cough syrup users a…

  • Beliefs and Social Norms About Codeine and Promethazine Hydrochloride Cough Syrup (CPHCS) Use and Addiction Among Multi-Ethnic College Students

    Ronald Peters, Ronald J Peters et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2007

    In this study a qualitative approach is used to investigate relevant beliefs and norms concerning the consumption, initiation, and perceived addiction of codeine and promethazine hydrochloride cough syrup (CPHCS) among 61 college-age students who identified themselves as current CPHCS users. In general, a majority of students stated that doctors and pharmacists were the greatest facilitators of CPHCS acquisition. A majority of students believed t…

  • The Relationship Between Sexual Abuse and Drug Use

    Queen Martin, Ronald J Peters et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2005

    This study offers cross-sectional analysis of data collected from the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Awareness and Use Study (ASAAUS). Data collection took place in October 2003 via a self-administered survey. Students who reported sexual abuse history in or around campus were 4 times more likely to report current amphetamine, cocaine, hallucinogen, opiate, or designer drug use compared to students with no sexual abuse history. Logistic regression a…

  • Identifying the Perceived and Diagnosed Prevalence of Ecstasy Dependence Among Club Rave Attendees

    George S Yacoubian, Ronald J Peters et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2005

    The “rave” phenomenon has been a major element in the resurgence of psychedelic drug use in Western society. Purportedly central to raves is the use of “club drugs,” such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or “ecstasy”). To date, however, no studies have attempted to estimate MDMA dependence among rave attendees. In the current study, personal drug data were collected from 154 adult “club rave” attendees along the Baltimore-Washington cor…

  • Cigarette smoking as an alternative to screened drugs

    Ronald J Peters, Steven H Kelder et al.ARTICLEAddiction Research & Theory2005

    While at-risk adolescents smoke at higher rates than other adolescents, nicotine is often omitted from inquiry in studies involving delinquent youth. To address this limitation, the current study used a qualitative approach to investigate the beliefs associated with cigarette smoking trends among 37 adolescent smokers enrolled in an alternative high school, who were ever or currently on probation. More than 80% of males and females believed that …

  • Strategies to prevent HIV transmission among heterosexual African-American women

    Open AccessE James Essien, Angela Meshack et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal for Equity…2005

    BACKGROUND: African-American women are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 60% of all cases among women in the United States. Although their race is not a precursor for HIV, the socioeconomic and cultural disparities associated with being African American may increase their risk of infection. Prior research has shown that interventions designed to reduce HIV infection among African-American women must address the life demands and s…

  • Strategies to prevent HIV transmission among heterosexual African-American men

    Open AccessE James Essien, Angela Meshack et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2005

    The results indicate that the respondents taking part in this study believe that HIV and AIDS are continued threats to the African-American community because of sexual risk taking behavior, that is, failure to use condoms. Further, African-American men are having sex without condoms when having sex with women often when they are under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances and they are having sex with men while incarcerated an…

  • Beliefs and Social Norms About Smoking Onset and Addictions Among Urban Adolescent Cigarette Smokers

    Ronald J Peters, Steven H Kelder et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2005

    Cigarette smoking is a behavior which is most often developed during adolescence. The association between smoking onset and nicotine addiction has not been clearly established among ethic minorities. To better understand this relationship, this study used a qualitative approach to investigate relevant beliefs and norms associated with cigarette smoking initiation and development of nicotine addiction among 52 high school students who identified t…

  • Primary source of income is associated with differences in HIV risk behaviors in street-recruited samples

    Open AccessE James Essien, Michael W Ro et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal for Equity…2004

    BACKGROUND: The relationship between primary source of income and HIV risk behaviors and the racial/ethnic differences in risk behavior profiles among disadvantaged populations have not been fully explored. This is unusual given that the phenomenon of higher risk in more disadvantaged populations is well-known but the mechanisms remain unclear. We examined the relationship between primary source of income and differences in HIV risk behaviors amo…

  • Identifying the Prevalence and Correlates of Ecstasy and Other Club Drug (Eocd) Use Among High School Seniors

    George S Yacoubian, Meghan K Green et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2003

    A plethora of anecdotal evidence has suggested that the use of “club drugs,” such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Ketamine, Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphe-tamine (MDMA or “ecstasy”), is a serious problem among youth across the United States. Unfortunately, little scientific evidence exists to support this contention. In the current study, we examine the ecstasy and other club drug (EOCD)-using behaviors of 1,56…

  • Drug Use Among Texas Alternative School Students

    Ronald J Peters, Susan R Tortolero et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2003

    Self-report drug use data were collected from 494 alternative school students, grades seven through 12, surveyed through the Safer Choices 2 study in Houston, Texas. Data were collected between October 2000 and March 2001 via audio-enabled laptop computers equipped with headphones. Twenty-eight percent of the sample reported past-month marijuana use, and 10% reported past-month opiate/codeine use. Males were almost twice as likely as females to h…

  • Comparing the Validity of Self-Reported Recent Drug Use Between Adult and Juvenile Arrestees

    George S Yacoubian, Kristine L VanderWall et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2003

    A large body of literature has explored the validity of self-reported drug use among criminal populations. These works have typically revealed strong underreporting of recent illicit drug use. To date, however, no studies have compared the validity of self-reported drug-using behaviors between adult and juvenile offenders. The authors overcome this limitation by assessing the validity of self-reported recent drug use with data collected from 1,42…

  • Exploring Benzodiazepine Use Among Houston Arrestees

    George S Yacoubian, Blake J Urbach et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychoactive Drugs2002

    While marijuana and cocaine are the two most prevalent drugs among arrestees, benzodiazepine use has surpassed that of opiates in several jurisdictions across the United States. Despite this proliferation, few scholarly works have focused on benzodiazepine use among individuals under criminal justice supervision. In the present study, the authors used Chi-square statistics and logistic regression to identify significant associations between recen…

  • Promoting tolerance and moral engagement through peer modeling

    Enomoyi Ama, Cristina S Barroso et al.ARTICLECultural Diversity & Ethnic…2000