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Substance Use Among Gang Member Adolescents and Young Adults and Associations With Friends and Family Substance Use
Beth R Hoffman1, Nnenna Weathers2, Bill Sanders3
1Department of Public Health, California State University, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Problem:
Gang membership is an indicator of chronic substance use. Social network studies indicate that substance use in youth is related to substance use in friends and family; however, no such analyses among gang youth have been conducted.
Methods:
Interviews were conducted with a sample of young gang members (n = 60) in Los Angeles. Univariate analyses were conducted.
Findings:
Cigarette use in gang members was strongly associated with cigarette use in friendship networks. There were no associations for use of alcohol and marijuana.
Conclusions:
Few associations emerged between substance use in participants and their friends/family. Possible explanations for these findings are presented.
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