Precocious Transitions and Long-term Heroin use Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study of Gang-affiliated Mexican-American Males

• In Event: 368 - Section on Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 05. The Influence of Social Networks and Life Transitions on Risk Behaviors

Abstract

A longitudinal study (15 years) investigates heroin use patterns following precocious transition experiences for gang-affiliated Mexican-American males (n=119) in San Antonio, Texas. Five precocious transitions are examined: cohabitation, early nest leaving, school dropout, teenage parenthood, and unemployment. Half of these men used heroin over the follow-up period for an average of under 4 years. Findings from a zero-inflated Poisson model indicate that while these transitions do not have a significant effect on initiation of heroin use, they do have an important influence on individual’s drug trajectories once they have initiated. Early-nest leaving and teenage parenthood are protective factors for continued heroin use while dropping out of high school and cohabiting during this same period are risk factors. Findings are discussed within the context of these disadvantaged and marginalized communities.

Authors

• Avelardo Valdez, University of Southern California

• Alice Cepeda, University of Southern California

• Kathryn M. Nowotny, University of Miami

• Jessica Frankeberger, University of Southern California