Ronald G Thompson1, Deborah S Hasin. 1. Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. rgt2101@columbia.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examined whether a history of foster care was associated with the risk for substance use among newly homeless young adults, controlling for demographics and other risk factors. METHODS: Multiple logistic regression analyses, adjusted for controls, among consecutive admissions of 424 newly homeless young adults (18-21 years), determined the association between foster care and substance use. RESULTS: A history of foster care was reported by 35% of the sample. Alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes were the most frequently used substances. After adjusting for demographics, childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, prior arrest, unemployment, lack of high school diploma, and family drug use, homeless young adults with histories of foster care were: three times as likely to smoke cigarettes (AOR=3.09); more than three times as likely to use marijuana (AOR=3.30); and almost nine times as likely to have been in drug treatment (AOR=8.81) than those without such histories. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to screen homeless young adults who exited foster care for substance use, particularly cigarettes and marijuana. Risk reduction interventions should be targeted and tailored to their substance prevention needs.
BACKGROUND: This study examined whether a history of foster care was associated with the risk for substance use among newly homeless young adults, controlling for demographics and other risk factors. METHODS: Multiple logistic regression analyses, adjusted for controls, among consecutive admissions of 424 newly homeless young adults (18-21 years), determined the association between foster care and substance use. RESULTS: A history of foster care was reported by 35% of the sample. Alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes were the most frequently used substances. After adjusting for demographics, childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, prior arrest, unemployment, lack of high school diploma, and family drug use, homeless young adults with histories of foster care were: three times as likely to smoke cigarettes (AOR=3.09); more than three times as likely to use marijuana (AOR=3.30); and almost nine times as likely to have been in drug treatment (AOR=8.81) than those without such histories. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to screen homeless young adults who exited foster care for substance use, particularly cigarettes and marijuana. Risk reduction interventions should be targeted and tailored to their substance prevention needs.
Authors: Suzanne L Wenzel; Joan S Tucker; Daniela Golinelli; Harold D Green; Annie Zhou Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2010-07-24 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Marianne B M van den Bree; Katherine Shelton; Adrian Bonner; Sebastian Moss; Hollie Thomas; Pamela J Taylor Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2009-05-31 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Katie A Ports; Dawn M Holman; Angie S Guinn; Sanjana Pampati; Karen E Dyer; Melissa T Merrick; Natasha Buchanan Lunsford; Marilyn Metzler Journal: J Pediatr Nurs Date: 2018-11-07 Impact factor: 2.145
Authors: Ronald G Thompson; Jennifer C Elliott; Mei-Chen Hu; Christina Aivadyan; Efrat Aharonovich; Deborah S Hasin Journal: Addict Res Theory Date: 2016-06-21
Authors: Lake-Hui Quek; Gary C K Chan; Angela White; Jason P Connor; Peter J Baker; John B Saunders; Adrian B Kelly Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2013-11-28
Authors: Diane Santa Maria; Nikhil Padhye; Michael Businelle; Yijiong Yang; Jennifer Jones; Alexis Sims; Marguerita Lightfoot Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2021-07-06 Impact factor: 5.428