Substance Use and Health and Safety among Homeless Youth

Rhule-Louie, Dana M.; Bowen, Sarah; Baer, John; Peterson, Peggy L.

doi:10.1007/s10826-007-9142-5

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Use of substances may be an important coping mechanism among these youth to decrease, change, or escape memories of childhood trauma; strains faced while homeless; and trauma and emotional discomfort associated with engagement in sexual risk behaviors or experience of victimization. Although there is limited extant research examining coping among homeless youth, findings of these studies have generally shown substances are used by this population group to manage their feelings, psychological distress, and emotional discomfort (Fisher, Florsheim, & Sheetz, 2005;Kidd, 2003;Rhule-Louie, Bowen, Baer, & Peterson, 2008). There is a need to understand the role using substances may have in relation to sexual risk behavior and sexual victimization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Risk Behaviors, Sexual Offenses, and Sexual Victimization Among Homeless Youth

Heerde

Hemphill

2016

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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The use of substances among youth experiencing homelessness is an important issue in the context of addressing the developing burden of morbidities arising due to illness, injury, physical and mental health concerns, and low rates of health care utilization among this population group. Youth experiencing homelessness report engaging in and being victimized by various forms of sexual behavior. Of interest in this systematic review were published studies investigating substance use in its association with perpetration of sexual offenses, engagement in sexual risk behavior, or experience of sexual victimization among homeless youth. A systematic search of 12 psychology, health, and social science electronic databases was conducted. Search terms included "homeless*," "youth," "sex crimes," "sexual victimization," "survival sex," "rape," "drugs," and "substance abuse." Twenty-three studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. No studies statistically examining substance use in its association with perpetrating sexual offenses were located. Findings showed substance use was generally associated with sexual risk behavior or sexual victimization; however, it remains unclear whether substance use precedes or follows these behaviors and experiences. It is possible substances are used by homeless youth as a means of coping with sexual risk behavior and victimization. Implications of the review findings in relation to prevention and intervention approaches aimed to decrease the incidence and severity of health concerns among homeless youth are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Risk Behaviors, Sexual Offenses, and Sexual Victimization Among Homeless Youth

Heerde

Hemphill

2016

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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“…In a sample of 285 homeless youth, participants used substances a mean of 22.7 days out of the previous 30 days [40]. Other studies have found that a little less than half of homeless youth use substances regularly, with approximately one-third of youth using substances on a daily or weekly basis [69,84].…”

Section: Substance Usementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, they make decisions about how and where to live during a time when their decision making and problem solving skills are immature [39]. These youth are at greater risk of making bad decisions and operating in high risk situations compared to their housed peers [40].…”

Section: Neurocognitive Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mental and Physical Health of Homeless Youth: A Literature Review

Edidin

Ganim

Hunter

et al. 2011

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev

359

325

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Youth homelessness is a growing concern in the United States. Despite difficulties studying this population due to inconsistent definitions of what it means to be a youth and homeless, the current body of research indicates that abuse, family breakdown, and disruptive family relationships are common contributing factors to youth homelessness. Moreover, the experience of homelessness appears to have numerous adverse implications and to affect neurocognitive development and academics, as well as mental and physical health. Substance use, sexually transmitted infections, and psychiatric disorders are particularly prevalent in this population. Whereas some of these problems may be short-lived, the chronic stress and deprivation associated with homelessness may have long-term effects on development and functioning. Further, difficulties accessing adequate and developmentally-appropriate health care contribute to more serious health concerns. Suggestions for future research and interventions are discussed.

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“…33 In a study of street-involved adolescents, injection drug use was found to be negatively associated with the number of places in which the youth had stayed, yet positively associated with the probability of staying on the street. 34 In street-involved youth, including underage and older youth (aged 14 to 26), it was found that unstable housing (defined as living in a hostel or a shelter) was positively associated with greater number of sex partners. 30 In a prospective cohort study including 14-to 25-year-old street youth, homelessness episodes (at least 24 hours in the previous 6 months) were linked to increased risk of initiation into drug injection during follow-up.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Residential Trajectory and HIV High-Risk Behaviors among Montréal Street Youth—A Reciprocal Relationship

et al. 2011

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Evidence has linked residential instability and engagement in high-risk behaviors. This paper longitudinally examines the relationship between changes in residential stability and changes in HIV risk behaviors among Montréal street youth (SY). Between April 2006 and May 2007, 419 SY (18-25 years old) were recruited in a cohort study. SY (using Montréal street youth agencies services) were eligible if they had had at least one 24-hour episode of homelessness in the previous 30 days. Baseline and follow-up interviews, carried out every 3 months, included completion of a questionnaire (based on Life History Calendar Technique) assessing daily sleeping arrangements since the last interview, and monthly sexual and drug use behaviors. Using mixed-effects logistic regression method, we examined the association between various risk behaviors and residential stability, reached when a youth resided in any of the following settings for a whole month: own place; friends'/partner's/parent's place; any types of housing service (excluding emergency shelters). Analyses were carried out controlling for gender, age, education level, lifetime duration of homelessness, childhood sexual trauma, and lifetime mental health disorders. This calls for more integrated services combining both individual and structural-level interventions to improve the health of street youth.

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Substance Use and Health and Safety among Homeless Youth

Cited by 18 publications

References 30 publications

Sexual Risk Behaviors, Sexual Offenses, and Sexual Victimization Among Homeless Youth

Sexual Risk Behaviors, Sexual Offenses, and Sexual Victimization Among Homeless Youth

The Mental and Physical Health of Homeless Youth: A Literature Review

Residential Trajectory and HIV High-Risk Behaviors among Montréal Street Youth—A Reciprocal Relationship

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