Street Youths and Substance Use: The Role of Background, Street Lifestyle, and Economic Factors

• NCJ Number: 178759
• Journal: Youth & Society Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 3-26
• Author(s): Stephen W. Baron
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 24 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Solicitor General; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; Edmonton Sociological Society
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines the role that various background, labor market and street lifestyle factors play in street youths’ drug and alcohol use.

Abstract

In a sample of 200 homeless male street youths, exposure to parental substance abuse increased the subjects’ risk of alcohol and hard-drug use. Histories of physical abuse were related to the use of psychedelic drugs. Long-term homelessness influenced hard-drug use, whereas drug- and alcohol-using peers influenced the use of alcohol, marijuana and psychedelic drugs. Participation in property crime increased street youths’ use of all types of drugs and alcohol, whereas drug distribution was linked to greater soft-drug use. Job histories and depression were linked to alcohol and hard-drug use, whereas self-blame for unemployment increased alcohol use. The article suggests the need for research into the causal influences on drug and alcohol use as youths move from their homes onto the streets, and the influences of these factors on the use of different types of drugs. Tables, appendix, notes, references