Volume 30, Issue 4 p. 970-988

Empirical Article

Peer Information and Substance Use Decision Making in Street-Involved Youth

Erin P. Macdonald,

Corresponding Author

Erin P. Macdonald

[email protected]

McGill University

Requests for reprints should be addressed to Erin P. Macdonald, Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]

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Andrea L. Howard,

Andrea L. Howard

Carleton University

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Erin P. Macdonald,

Corresponding Author

Erin P. Macdonald

[email protected]

McGill University

Requests for reprints should be addressed to Erin P. Macdonald, Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]

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Andrea L. Howard,

Andrea L. Howard

Carleton University

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First published: 23 September 2020

https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12574

Citations: 3

This research was supported by a scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada awarded to E. Macdonald, and a Mauril Bélanger Memorial Youth Addictions Research Grant from the United Way Ottawa/Project Step in partnership with Mitacs, awarded to A. Howard and E. Macdonald.

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Abstract

In the context of adolescent substance use, peers are a primary source of both influence and information. Substance-related peer information sharing is a relatively understudied phenomenon, particularly in street-involved youth. We recruited 84 youth from a community drop-in center to complete a survey assessing substance use and peer influence on drug use. A subset of youth completed a semi-structured interview assessing factors related to peer information sharing around drug use. Results showed that peer influence was highly relevant to drug use patterns in street-involved youth. Trust in the person supplying information, personal and peer experience, and salience of information played important roles in youths’ assessments of drug-related information exchanged with peers. Implications for improving community information dissemination strategies are discussed.

Supporting Information

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Volume30, Issue4

December 2020

Pages 970-988

Peer Information and Substance Use Decision Making in Street-Involved Youth

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Peer Information and Substance Use Decision Making in Street-Involved Youth

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