AIMS: To identify characteristics of social network members with whom homeless youth engage in drinking and drug use. DESIGN: A multi-stage probability sample of homeless youth completed a social network survey. SETTING: Forty-one shelters, drop-in centers and known street hangouts in Los Angeles County. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 419 homeless youth, aged 13-24 years (mean age = 20.09, standard deviation = 2.80). MEASUREMENTS: Respondents described 20 individuals in their networks, including their substance use and demographics, and the characteristics of the relationships they shared, including with whom they drank and used drugs. Dyadic, multi-level regressions identified predictors of shared substance use. FINDINGS: Shared drinking was more likely to occur with recent sex partners [odds ratio (OR) = 2.64, confidence interval (CI): 1.67, 4.18], drug users (OR = 4.57, CI: 3.21, 6.49), sexual risk takers (OR = 1.71, CI: 1.25, 2.33), opinion leaders (OR = 1.69, CI: 1.42, 2.00), support providers (OR = 1.41, CI: 1.03, 1.93) and popular people (those with high degree scores in the network) (OR = 1.07, CI: 1.01, 1.14). Shared drug use was more likely to occur with recent sex partners (OR = 2.44, CI: 1.57, 3.80), drinkers (OR = 4.53, CI: 3.05, 6.74), sexual risk takers (OR = 1.51, CI: 1.06, 2.17), opinion leaders (OR = 1.24, CI: 1.03, 1.50), support providers (OR = 1.83, CI: 1.29, 2.60) and popular people (OR = 1.16, CI: 1.08, 1.24). CONCLUSIONS: Homeless youth in the United States are more likely to drink or use drugs with those who engage in multiple risk behaviors and who occupy influential social roles (popular, opinion leaders, support providers, sex partners). Understanding these social networks may be helpful in designing interventions to combat substance misuse.
AIMS: To identify characteristics of social network members with whom homeless youth engage in drinking and drug use. DESIGN: A multi-stage probability sample of homeless youth completed a social network survey. SETTING: Forty-one shelters, drop-in centers and known street hangouts in Los Angeles County. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 419 homeless youth, aged 13-24 years (mean age = 20.09, standard deviation = 2.80). MEASUREMENTS: Respondents described 20 individuals in their networks, including their substance use and demographics, and the characteristics of the relationships they shared, including with whom they drank and used drugs. Dyadic, multi-level regressions identified predictors of shared substance use. FINDINGS: Shared drinking was more likely to occur with recent sex partners [odds ratio (OR) = 2.64, confidence interval (CI): 1.67, 4.18], drug users (OR = 4.57, CI: 3.21, 6.49), sexual risk takers (OR = 1.71, CI: 1.25, 2.33), opinion leaders (OR = 1.69, CI: 1.42, 2.00), support providers (OR = 1.41, CI: 1.03, 1.93) and popular people (those with high degree scores in the network) (OR = 1.07, CI: 1.01, 1.14). Shared drug use was more likely to occur with recent sex partners (OR = 2.44, CI: 1.57, 3.80), drinkers (OR = 4.53, CI: 3.05, 6.74), sexual risk takers (OR = 1.51, CI: 1.06, 2.17), opinion leaders (OR = 1.24, CI: 1.03, 1.50), support providers (OR = 1.83, CI: 1.29, 2.60) and popular people (OR = 1.16, CI: 1.08, 1.24). CONCLUSIONS: Homeless youth in the United States are more likely to drink or use drugs with those who engage in multiple risk behaviors and who occupy influential social roles (popular, opinion leaders, support providers, sex partners). Understanding these social networks may be helpful in designing interventions to combat substance misuse.
Authors: Harold D Green; Joan S Tucker; Suzanne L Wenzel; Daniela Golinelli; David P Kennedy; Gery W Ryan; Annie J Zhou Journal: Child Abuse Negl Date: 2012-01-20
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: Kayla de la Haye; Harold D Green; David P Kennedy; Annie Zhou; Daniela Golinelli; Suzanne L Wenzel; Joan S Tucker Journal: J Res Adolesc Date: 2012-06-07
Authors: David P Kennedy; Suzanne L Wenzel; Joan S Tucker; Harold D Green; Daniela Golinelli; Gery W Ryan; Robin Beckman; Annie Zhou Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2010-08
Authors: R Campbell; F Starkey; J Holliday; S Audrey; M Bloor; N Parry-Langdon; R Hughes; L Moore Journal: Lancet Date: 2008-05-10 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Sasha Uhlmann; Kora Debeck; Annick Simo; Thomas Kerr; Julio S G Montaner; Evan Wood Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2013-11-05 Impact factor: 3.829