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Substance Use Among Gang Member Adolescents and Young Adults and Associations With Friends and Family Substance Use
Author(s) -
Hoffman Beth R.,
Weathers Nnenna,
Sanders Bill
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6171
pISSN - 1073-6077
DOI - 10.1111/jcap.12064
Subject(s) - friendship , substance use , family member , psychology , substance abuse , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medicine , social psychology , family medicine
Problem Gang membership is an indicator of chronic substance use. Social network studies indicate that substance use in youth is related to substance use in friends and family; however, no such analyses among gang youth have been conducted. Methods Interviews were conducted with a sample of young gang members ( n = 60) in L os A ngeles. Univariate analyses were conducted. Findings Cigarette use in gang members was strongly associated with cigarette use in friendship networks. There were no associations for use of alcohol and marijuana. Conclusions Few associations emerged between substance use in participants and their friends/family. Possible explanations for these findings are presented.