Sequential progression of substance use among homeless youth: An empirical investigation of the gateway theory

Joshua Aaron Ginzler; Bryan N. Cochran; Melanie Domenech-Rodríguez; Ana Mari Cauce; Leslie B. Whitbeck

doi:10.1081/JA-120017391

Sequential progression of substance use among homeless youth: An empirical investigation of the gateway theory

Joshua Aaron Ginzler
, Bryan N. Cochran
, Melanie Domenech-Rodríguez
, Ana Mari Cauce
, Leslie B. Whitbeck

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined the sequence of substance-use initiation in 375 street youth (age 13-21) who were interviewed from 1994-99 in Seattle, Washington. Based on the "gateway theory," participants were categorized into six profiles to describe the order in which they initiated use of various substances (i.e., alcohol, marijuana, other drugs), or classified as nonprogressors if they had not tried all three classes of drugs. Youth progressing in the hypothesized gateway order (i.e., alcohol preceding marijuana, followed by other drugs) initiated their use at an earlier age than youth who had not progressed through all three substance classes. However, there was no relationship between a substance initiation profile and current substance-use. Implications include the recognition that street youth may follow different patterns of use than normative groups, and that interventions geared toward youth who use substances heavily must include contextual factors, in addition to substance-use history.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	725-758
Number of pages	34
Journal	Substance Use and Misuse
Volume	38
Issue number	3-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1081/JA-120017391
State	Published - 2003

Funding

This research was supported by an NIAAA award (AA10253-05; Cauce, PI), as well as partially supported by gran ts to Drs. Burton , Cauce, and Applebaum from the National Institutes of Mental Health for the establishment of the Family Research Consortium-III (R01 MH 49694-07) and FRC-III Postdoctoral Training (T32 MH 19734-06). We would also like to recognize the hard work and contributions of our research team.

Funder number
T32 MH 19734-06
T32MH019734, R01 MH 49694-07
AA10253-05

Keywords

Adolescents
Development
Drug use
Gateway theory
Homelessness

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1081/JA-120017391

Cite this

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title = "Sequential progression of substance use among homeless youth: An empirical investigation of the gateway theory",

abstract = "We examined the sequence of substance-use initiation in 375 street youth (age 13-21) who were interviewed from 1994-99 in Seattle, Washington. Based on the {"}gateway theory,{"} participants were categorized into six profiles to describe the order in which they initiated use of various substances (i.e., alcohol, marijuana, other drugs), or classified as nonprogressors if they had not tried all three classes of drugs. Youth progressing in the hypothesized gateway order (i.e., alcohol preceding marijuana, followed by other drugs) initiated their use at an earlier age than youth who had not progressed through all three substance classes. However, there was no relationship between a substance initiation profile and current substance-use. Implications include the recognition that street youth may follow different patterns of use than normative groups, and that interventions geared toward youth who use substances heavily must include contextual factors, in addition to substance-use history.",

keywords = "Adolescents, Development, Drug use, Gateway theory, Homelessness",

author = "Ginzler, \{Joshua Aaron\} and Cochran, \{Bryan N.\} and Melanie Domenech-Rodr{\'i}guez and Cauce, \{Ana Mari\} and Whitbeck, \{Leslie B.\}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by an NIAAA award (AA10253-05; Cauce, PI), as well as partially supported by gran ts to Drs. Burton , Cauce, and Applebaum from the National Institutes of Mental Health for the establishment of the Family Research Consortium-III (R01 MH 49694-07) and FRC-III Postdoctoral Training (T32 MH 19734-06). We would also like to recognize the hard work and contributions of our research team.",

year = "2003",

doi = "10.1081/JA-120017391",

language = "English",

volume = "38",

pages = "725--758",

journal = "Substance Use and Misuse",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Sequential progression of substance use among homeless youth

T2 - An empirical investigation of the gateway theory

AU - Ginzler, Joshua Aaron

AU - Cochran, Bryan N.

AU - Domenech-Rodríguez, Melanie

AU - Cauce, Ana Mari

AU - Whitbeck, Leslie B.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by an NIAAA award (AA10253-05; Cauce, PI), as well as partially supported by gran ts to Drs. Burton , Cauce, and Applebaum from the National Institutes of Mental Health for the establishment of the Family Research Consortium-III (R01 MH 49694-07) and FRC-III Postdoctoral Training (T32 MH 19734-06). We would also like to recognize the hard work and contributions of our research team.

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - We examined the sequence of substance-use initiation in 375 street youth (age 13-21) who were interviewed from 1994-99 in Seattle, Washington. Based on the "gateway theory," participants were categorized into six profiles to describe the order in which they initiated use of various substances (i.e., alcohol, marijuana, other drugs), or classified as nonprogressors if they had not tried all three classes of drugs. Youth progressing in the hypothesized gateway order (i.e., alcohol preceding marijuana, followed by other drugs) initiated their use at an earlier age than youth who had not progressed through all three substance classes. However, there was no relationship between a substance initiation profile and current substance-use. Implications include the recognition that street youth may follow different patterns of use than normative groups, and that interventions geared toward youth who use substances heavily must include contextual factors, in addition to substance-use history.

AB - We examined the sequence of substance-use initiation in 375 street youth (age 13-21) who were interviewed from 1994-99 in Seattle, Washington. Based on the "gateway theory," participants were categorized into six profiles to describe the order in which they initiated use of various substances (i.e., alcohol, marijuana, other drugs), or classified as nonprogressors if they had not tried all three classes of drugs. Youth progressing in the hypothesized gateway order (i.e., alcohol preceding marijuana, followed by other drugs) initiated their use at an earlier age than youth who had not progressed through all three substance classes. However, there was no relationship between a substance initiation profile and current substance-use. Implications include the recognition that street youth may follow different patterns of use than normative groups, and that interventions geared toward youth who use substances heavily must include contextual factors, in addition to substance-use history.

KW - Adolescents

KW - Development

KW - Drug use

KW - Gateway theory

KW - Homelessness

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0038752956

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DO - 10.1081/JA-120017391

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SN - 1082-6084

VL - 38

SP - 725

EP - 758

JO - Substance Use and Misuse

JF - Substance Use and Misuse

IS - 3-6

ER -

Sequential progression of substance use among homeless youth: An empirical investigation of the gateway theory

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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