Substance use among homeless
young people is a pervasive problem, and there have been many efforts to
understand more about the dynamics of this health compromising behavior. The
current study examined perceived substance use norms within homeless youths’
social networks utilizing in-depth interviews. The sample included 19 homeless
individuals aged 16 to 21. Four elements of substance use within networks
emerged: substance use choices, drug use safety issues, encouragement and/or
discouragement, and appropriate situations in which substance use is condoned.
These findings provide unique insight into the norms associated with drug and
alcohol use within homeless youths’ social networks.
Individual and Social Network Substance Use Norms Sample Quotes
| Qualitative codes and subcodes | Selected qualitative quotes |
|---|---|
| Substance use choices | |
| Anything goes | - I just didn’t care. I’d do anything. I’d let anybody else do anything. |
| Undesirable substance use | - I don’t condone the use any, any illegal drugs, period. I don’t even like drinking or smoking…it inhibits you. |
| Substance use distinctions | -I mean everyone smokes pot sometimes. But it’s not like an addiction you know it’s smoke here and there and then you know have fun. |
| Safety concerns | |
| Knowing your limits | -If I’ve got a buzz, I got to stop because if I drink more than what I’m supposed to, I get so drunk and I will get myself into trouble. |
| Drug-related safety | - try a little bit and see how it [the drug] does. |
| Buddy system | - Stay with the other person [substance user] to make sure they don’t…end up all fucked up laying somewhere. |
| Encouraging and discouraging messages | |
| Offering and visibility | - He’ll probably just be like ‘come on, just one drink, come on that’s it’ that kind of pressure. |
| No encouragement necessary | - I’ve never needed no encouragement. I just do it on my own. |
| Words of warning | -All of them say ‘Just stay clean.’ They, they’re always telling me, ‘Don’t, don’t use this, it’s just complications.’ |
| Avoidance | - If you are a crack-head, you’re gonna have to do it in your tent and nobody else can be around. |
| Substance use situations | |
| Managing emotions | - Um back when I was using um, [in] stressful situations, when I was mad, [and] when I was sad. I used emotionally, every emotion.. |
| Managing social situations | - I’ll do it because I feel like well if everybody else is getting fucked up that’ll give me more of the reason to you know just fit-like go right along with it. |
…Some homeless young
people report that their network members encourage drug and alcohol use by
making it widely available or by pressuring them to use. This is consistent
with the literature which holds that if network norms are consistent with drug
and alcohol use and participation in these behaviors is valued within the
group, the youth is likely afforded more opportunities to use alcohol and drugs
and may model the behavior of other members (Bauman & Ennett, 1996). In contrast
several young people stated that it was unnecessary for network members to
encourage substance use because they personally make the decision to drink
and/or use drugs. It is possible that the young people in this latter group
already have high rates of substance use and thus join peer groups where
network norms are consonant with their own values, beliefs, and behaviors
regarding alcohol and drug use. This finding is consistent with Gomez et al. (2010) who
found that those who belonged to social groups with drug dependent members were
more likely to report personal substance use dependency. Finally, several
describe how their networks discourage substance use through words of warning
or through avoidance techniques. It is possible that young people who belong to
social networks who do not condone alcohol and drug use are less likely to
initially be substance users.
Our final theme, which focuses on situations in which
substance use is condoned among homeless young people, is particularly unique
and adds to the existing literature because it reveals circumstances in which
alcohol and drug use is more likely to occur within their social networks.
Thus, our findings provide insight into why homeless youth view substances as
functional and how they are sometimes used to cope with emotions or social
situations. Several respondents describe situations in which they use
substances to assist with managing feelings of depression, resentment, and
sadness associated with experiences of child abuse. Others report using
substances to cope with anger and other negative feelings associated with their
current circumstances of having to survive on the street. Thus, some drugs may
be used as a coping mechanism to relieve numerous stressors, including those
associated with street life (Kidd & Kral, 2002; Thompson et al., 2009; Tyler & Johnson, 2006). Finally, some
talked about using substances in social situations perhaps because friends were
using or because they want to fit in with the group. This may be particularly
important for those who are new to the streets and are looking for dependable
individuals who will afford them protection and teach them survival techniques.
Although not highly desirable, these individuals may join substance using
groups because they feel people within these networks are important for their
survival on the streets…
Full article at: http://goo.gl/N4tbE8
By:
Lisa A. Melander,
Direct all correspondence to
Dr. Lisa A. Melander, Kansas State University, Department of Sociology,
Anthropology, and Social Work, 204 Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506. Phone:
(785) 532-6865. Fax (785) 532-6978.
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv insight
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