Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Substance Use and Health and Safety among Homeless Youth

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines how substance use is associated with the health and safety of homeless youth using cross-sectional, self-report data from 285 homeless adolescents. Path models were used to examine concurrent relationships between youth’s substance use and multiple aspects of their health and safety, including measures of psychological distress, housing risk and instability, and medical problems. Substance use was examined with both global (i.e., a composite of days of use across various drugs and alcohol) and specific (i.e., rates of use of specific drugs, injection drug use) measures. After controlling for demographic and historical variables, number of days of use was significantly related to psychological distress, whereas injection drug use was significantly related to housing risk. Examination of specific drugs revealed relationships between psychological distress and the use of alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines, and a specific relationship between housing risk and the use of heroin. None of the measures of substance use was significantly related to youth’s medical problems. Implications for interventions with homeless adolescents are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adlaf, E. M., Zdanowicz, Y. M., & Smart, R. G. (1996). Alcohol and other drug use among street-involved youths in Toronto. Addiction Research, 4, 11–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Babor, T. F., Stephens, R. S., & Marlatt, G. A. (1987). Verbal report methods in clinical research on alcoholism: Response bias and its minimization. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 48, 410–424.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, J. S., Ginzler, J. A., & Peterson, P. L. (2003). DSM-IV Alcohol and substance abuse and dependence in homeless youth. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 64, 5–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, J. S., Peterson, P. L., & Wells, E. A. (2004). Rationale and design of a brief substance use intervention for homeless adolescents. Addiction Research and Theory, 12, 317–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bousman, C. A., Blumber, E. J., Shillington, A. M., Hovell, M. F., Ji, M., Lehman, S. et al. (2005). Predictors of substance use among homeless youth in San Diego. Addictive Behavior, 30, 1100–1110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, R. A., Milburn, N. G., Rotheram-Borus, M. J., & Witkin, A. (2004). The system-of-care for homeless youth: Perceptions of service providers. Evaluation and Program Planning, 27, 443–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cauce, A. M., Paradise, M., Ginzler, J. A., Embry, L., Morgan, C., Lohr, Y. et al. (2000). The characteristics and mental health of homeless adolescents: Age and gender differences. Journal of Emotion and Behavioral Disorders, 8, 230–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X., Tyler, K. A., Whitbeck, L. B., & Hoyt, D. R. (2004). Early sexual abuse, street adversity, and drug use among female homeless and runaway adolescents in the Midwest. Journal of Drug Issues, 34, 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig, T. K. J., & Hodson, S. (2000). Homeless youth in London: II. Accommodation, employment and health outcomes at 1 year. Psychological Medicine, 30, 187–194.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farrow, J. A., Deisher, R. W., Brown, R., Kulig, J. W., & Kipke, M. D. (1992). Health and health needs of homeless and runaway youth: A position paper of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. Journal of Adolescent Health, 13, 717–726.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fennema, J. S. A., van Ameijden, E. J. C., van den Hoek, A., & Coutinho, R. A. (1997). Young and recent-onset injecting drug users are at higher risk for HIV. Addiction, 92, 1457–1465.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ginzler, J. A., & Cauce, A. M. (2000). Homelessness: The people, potential causes, and possible solutions. In A. Kazdin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of psychology. Washington, D. C.: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. W., Hofer, S. M., Donaldson, S. I., MacKinnon, D. P., & Schafer, J. L. (1997). Analysis with missing data in prevention research. In K. Bryant, M. Windle, & S. West (Eds.), The science of prevention: Methodological advances from alcohol and substance abuse research (pp. 325–366). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. W., Hofer, S. M., & Piccinin, A. M. (1994). Analysis with missing data in drug prevention research. In L. M. Collins & L. Seitz (Eds.), Advances in data analysis for prevention intervention research (pp. 13–63). Washington, DC: National Institute on Drug Abuse.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, J. M., Ennett, S. T., & Ringwalt, C. L. (1997). Substance use among runaway and homeless youth in three national samples. American Journal of Public Health, 87, 229–235.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grisso, T. J., & Barnum, R. (1998). Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI). Worchester, MA: University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, M. R. (1991). Homeless and runaway youth mental health issues: No access to the system. Journal of Adolescent Health, 12, 576–579.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kipke, M. D., Montgomery, S. B., Simon, T. R., & Iverson, E. F. (1997). “Substance abuse” disorders among runaway and homeless youth. Substance Use and Misuse, 32, 969–986.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koopman, C., Rosario, M., & Rotheram-Borus, M. J. (1994). Alcohol and drug use and sexual behaviors placing runaways at risk for HIV infections. Addictive Behaviors, 19, 95–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacLean, M. G., Paradise, M. J., & Cauce, A. M. (1999). Substance use and psychological adjustment in homeless adolescents: A test of three models. American Journal of Community Psychology, 27, 405–427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, P. L., Baer, J. S., Wells, E. A., Ginzler, J. S., & Garrett, S. B. (2006). Short-term effects of a brief motivational intervention to reduce alcohol and drug risk among homeless adolescents. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 20, 254–264.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ridenour, T. A., Maldonado-Molina, M., Compton, W. M., Spitznagel, E. L., & Cottler, L. B. (2005). Factors associated with the transition from abuse to dependence among substance abusers: Implications for a measure of addictive liability. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 80, 1–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, M. J., Koegel, P., & Ferguson, L. (1989). Alcohol use and abuse among homeless adolescents in Hollywood. Contemporary Drug Problems, 16, 415–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seal, K. H., Kral, A. H., Gee, L., Moore, L. D., Blumenthal, R.N, Lorvick, J., et al. (2001). Predictors and prevention of nonfatal overdose among street-recruited injection heroin users in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1998–1999. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 1842–1846.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smart, R. G., & Adlaf, E. M. (1991). Substance use and problems among Toronto street youth. British Journal of Addiction, 86, 999–1010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sobell, L. C., Maisto, S. A., Sobell, M. B., & Cooper, A. M. (1979). Reliability of alcohol abusers? Self reports of drinking behavior. Behavioral Research and Therapy, 17, 157–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sobell, M. B., & Sobell, L. C. (1993). Treatment for problem drinkers: A public health priority. In J. S. Baer & G. A. Marlatt (Eds.), Addictive behaviors across the life span: Prevention, treatment, and policy issues (pp. 138–157). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staller, K. M. (2004). Runaway youth system dynamics: A theoretical framework for analyzing runaway and homeless youth policy. Families in Society, 85, 379–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tait, R. J., & Hulse, G. K. (2005). Adolescent substance use and hospital presentations: A record linkage assessment of 12-month outcomes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 79, 365–371.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitbeck, L. B., Hoyt, D. R., & Ackley, K. A. (1997). Abusive family backgrounds and later victimization among runaway and homeless adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 7, 375–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitbeck, L. B., Hoyt, D. R., & Yoder, K. A. (1999). A risk-amplification model of victimization and depressive symptoms among runaway and homeless adolescents. American Journal of Community Psychology, 27, 273–296.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitbeck, L. B., & Simons, R. L. (1990). Life on the streets: The victimization of runaway and homeless adolescents. Youth & Society, 22, 108–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wittig, M. C. W., Wright, J. D., & Kaminsky, D. C. (1997). Substance use among street children in Honduras. Substance Use and Misuse, 32, 805–827.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research is supported by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism grant RO1 AA12167, awarded to Peggy L. Peterson, and National Institute on Drug Abuse grant RO1 DA15751, awarded to John S. Baer.

We would like to thank Blair Beadnell and Sharon Garrett for their contributions to earlier versions of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Dana M. Rhule-Louie & Sarah Bowen

  2. Department of Psychology and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    John S. Baer & Peggy L. Peterson

Authors
  1. Dana M. Rhule-Louie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sarah Bowen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John S. Baer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Peggy L. Peterson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dana M. Rhule-Louie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rhule-Louie, D.M., Bowen, S., Baer, J.S. et al. Substance Use and Health and Safety among Homeless Youth. J Child Fam Stud 17, 306–319 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-007-9142-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-007-9142-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation