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PROBLEM: This cross-sectional study identified a number of factors that were correlated with drug-use severity among homeless youth. METHODS: To examine a commonly used measure of substance-use severity, the TCU Drug Screen II, in a convenience sample of 156 homeless youth, ages 15-25 from a drop-in site in Santa Monica, California. FINDINGS: Higher drug-use severity scores were independently related to low levels of perceived health and maladaptive coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study are particularly relevant in that they support previous results showing that psychosocial variables are related to substance use behavior among young populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore homeless youths' perspectives on the power of drugs in their lives, the preferred type of drugs used, barriers to treatment, and strategies to prevent drug initiation and abuse. This was a descriptive, qualitative study using focus groups with a purposeful sample of 24 drug-using homeless youth. The results provided insight into the lives of drug-using homeless youth. The most commonly used drugs were marijuana and alcohol. Reported reasons for drug use were parental drug use, low self-esteem, and harsh living conditions on the streets. Barriers to treatment were pleasurable enjoyment of the drug, physical dependence, and non-empathetic mental health providers. Strategies to prevent initiation and abuse of drugs were creative activities, such as art, sports, and music, and disdain for parental/family drug use and abuse. Comparative research is needed on specific personal factors that cause initiation and deterrence of drugs use/abuse among homeless youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]