Prevalence of Substance Use, Housing Instability, and Self-Perceived Preparation for Independence Among Current and Form
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Prevalence of Substance Use, Housing Instability, and Self-Perceived Preparation for Independence Among Current and Former Foster Youth Elizabeth J. Greeno1 · Bethany R. Lee1 · Michelle Tuten1 · Deborah Harburger1
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract This study assesses prevalence of substance use, and the impact of housing instability. and independence preparation on substance use in two samples: youth currently in-care and former foster youth. Both samples were from a mid-Atlantic state with youth currently in-care residing in rural jurisdictions and former foster youth residing in the state’s largest urban jurisdiction. A cross-sectional design utilizing paper and web-based surveys was used to collect data. Findings indicate youth in-care are consuming substances that are on average with national prevalence statistics. However, former foster youth are consuming substances at alarmingly high rates well above the national prevalence. A high rate of housing instability after leaving child welfare was reported for former foster youth. In addition, greater preparation for independence among former foster youth was associated with less substance usage. Implications for social work practice, independence preparation, and life skills classes are presented. Keywords Substance consumption · Substance use youth child welfare · Housing instability former foster youth · Independence preparation Substance use generally tends to increase from adolescence into young adulthood with a peak of use during young adulthood (National Institutes of Health, 2008). Youth with child welfare involvement may be at an increased risk for future substance misuse. The purpose of the current study is to assess substance use prevalence and the experiences of housing instability and independent living preparation for two samples, youth currently in-care and former foster youth.
Substance Use and Child Welfare Involvement Youth who have a history of maltreatment, including exposure to trauma, abuse, and mental illness, as well as exposure to parental alcohol and drug use are at risk of substance use disorders once they exit from child welfare (see * Elizabeth J. Greeno [email protected] 1
University of Maryland School of Social Work, 525 W. Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Aarons et al., 2008; Bender, Yang, Ferguson, & Thompson, 2015; Courtney, Terao, & Bost, 2004; Narendorf & McMillen, 2010; Pilowsky & Wu, 2006; Wall & Kohl, 2007). For example, Braciszewski and Stout (2012) completed a systematic review of studies that assessed alcohol and drug use for current and former foster youth. Their review found that estimates of alcohol and marijuana use among current foster youth are roughly equal to that among the normative populations. However, among former foster young adults, lifetime prevalence rates for alcohol and drugs other than marijuana were higher than young adults without foster care histories. Similarly, Casanueva, Stambaugh, Urato, Fraser, and Williams (2014) found that one-
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