Substance use typologies among young people experiencing homelessness in seven cities across the United States: A latent class analysis

Samantha Brown, Anamika Barman-Adhikari, Kevin Garcia, Stephanie Chassman, Hsun Ta Hsu, Robin Petering, Diane Santa Maria, Sarah Narendorf, Jama Shelton, Kimberly Bender, Kristin Ferguson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Substance use and other health-risk risk factors, including mental health, trauma, and sexual-risk behaviors, often co-occur among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH). The present study aimed to identify subgroups of YEH based on polysubstance use and the linkages to sociodemographic and health-risk characteristics. Methods: From June 2016 to July 2017, 1,426 YEH (aged 18–26 years) were recruited from seven cities (Houston, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, New York City, St. Louis, San Jose). Participants provided information via a self-administered electronic survey on substance use, mental health, trauma, sexual risk behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics. The majority of YEH identified as Black (37.3%), cisgender (92.8%), and heterosexual (69.2%). On average, YEH were 20.9 years (SD = 2.1). This study employed latent class analysis (LCA) to identify subgroups of YEH according to their substance use. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify sociodemographic and health-risk characteristics associated with class-membership. Results: Four latent classes of YEH substance use were identified: (1) high polysubstance use; (2) moderate stimulant and high marijuana, alcohol, and prescription drug use; (3) high marijuana, alcohol, and prescription drug use; (4) low/moderate marijuana and alcohol use. Multinomial logistic regression models indicated that geographic location, gender, race/ethnicity, mental health, trauma history, and sexual risk behaviors were significant correlates of substance use class membership among YEH. Conclusions: These findings offer important implications for the prevention and treatment of substance use among YEH. Screening protocols should consider co-occurring risk factors such as traumatic experiences, sexual risk behaviors, and mental health history as indicators of polysubstance use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number107929
JournalAddictive Behaviors
Volume150
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Keywords

  • Homelessness
  • Latent class analysis
  • Substance use
  • Youth

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Toxicology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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