title: Prescription drug misuse among homeless youth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prescription drug misuse (PDM) is highly prevalent among youth in the U.S., and can have serious health consequences. Homeless youth are a particularly vulnerable population with high rates of substance use. However, PDM has not been studied in a sample comprised exclusively of homeless youth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 451 homeless youth recruited from drop-in centers in Los Angeles, CA, provided information on substance use, mental health, service utilization, trauma, and sexual risk behavior. Multivariable logistic regression assessed correlates of past month PDM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 50% reported lifetime PDM and 21.6% reported PDM in the past month. The most frequently used prescriptions in the past month were: opioids only (24.5%), sedatives only (23.4%), and stimulants only (10.6%); 14.9% used some combination of these three types of prescription medications. Homeless youth reported that prescriptions were most commonly obtained for free from friends or relatives (24.5%). Foster care involvement was associated with decreased PDM, while hard drug use, suicidal ideation, and unprotected sex were associated with increased PDM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Homeless youth report high rates of PDM, and access these medications most frequently from friends and family. PDM among homeless youth clusters with other risk factors, including hard drug use, unprotected sex, and suicidal ideation. Surprisingly, foster care history was associated with decreased PDM. Programs aimed at preventing PDM among homeless youth should recognize the clustering of risk behaviors, assess prescription use/access when providing mental health services, and educate the general public about proper disposal of prescriptions.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California School of Social Work, 1149 S. Hill St., Suite 360, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States. Electronic address: hrhoades@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Harmony
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rhoades
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California School of Social Work, 1149 S. Hill St., Suite 360, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States.
authors.forename: Hailey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Winetrobe
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California School of Social Work, 1149 S. Hill St., Suite 360, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Foster care; Hard drug use; Homeless youth; Mental health; Prescription drug misuse; Sexual risk behavior