Injunctive and Descriptive Norms As Predictors of Meth Use, Heroin Use and Idu Among Homeless Youth

Background: Homeless youth report elevated rates of hard drug use, including opioids such as heroin, and stimulants such as cocaine, crack, and methamphetamines, yet there are few evaluations of influencers on hard drug use among homeless and street-involved youth. Given the high prevalence of hard drug use among homeless youth and the potential health, social, and legal consequences of such use, it is critical to develop a better understanding of the context of homeless youths’ drug use and the factors that influence it. The purpose of the current study was to understand the relative influence of both descriptive and injunctive norms in the context of the different referent groups that homeless youth are connected to (i.e. family, street peers, home-based peers and staff) on methamphetamine use, heroin use, and IDU for this population.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from three drop-in centers, in Los Angeles, CA, between October 2011 and June 2013. The study consisted of two parts: a social network interview and a computerized self-administered survey. For this analysis, homeless youth who completed both the social network interview and the survey questionnaire were examined. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models examined the association of demographic characteristics (i.e. age, gender, sexuality), drug use of referent groups (i.e. street-based, home-based peers, and relatives), objection of drug use of referent groups (i.e. street-based, home-based peers, relatives, staff) and meth, heroin, and IDU in the last 30 days.

Results: Youth (N = 919) ranged in age from 14 to 29 years old. Of these youth, 25% used meth, 10% used heroin, and 9.3% injected illegal drugs in the 30 days. Twenty-five percent of youth had at least one street-based peer, home-based peer, or relative who used meth, heroin or injected an illegal drug. A majority of youth had at least one person in their networks who objected to meth, heroin and/or injection drug use. Multivariate results indicated that youth with street-based peers and/or home-based peers who used meth, heroin or IDU significantly increased the likelihood of those youth using meth, heroin or injecting in the last 30 days. Youth with at least one street-based peer, home-based peer or relative who objected to meth use significantly decreased the likelihood of youth using meth in the last 30 days. Additionally, youth who reported having a home-based peer who objected to IDU were significantly less likely to have injected drugs in the last 30 days. Objecting to heroin used did not significantly impact the likelihood of youth’s heroin use in the last 30 days.

Conclusion: Both injunctive and descriptive norms have a significant impact on whether homeless youth use hard drugs such as meth and heroin in the last 30 days. Engaging street-based peers, home-based peers, and/or relatives in social network-based drug use interventions may be an effective way to reduce hard drug use among homeless youth populations.