Foster youth and drug use: Exploring risk and protective factors

• Published in: Children and youth services review Vol. 56; pp. 107 - 115
• Main Authors: Barn, Ravinder, Tan, Jo-Pei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Disadvantage; Drug use; Foster youth; Protective factors; Risk; Foster youth; Risk; Protective factors; Disadvantage; Drug use
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.07.007

Substance use and misuse experiences of foster youth remain an under-researched area. Given that early use of drugs is said to be a common factor among 90% of those who develop substance misuse problems in their lifetime, this is an important area of academic study (Dennis, White, & Ives, 2009). By drawing upon primary empirical data from a mixed-methods study, this paper addresses an important gap in the literature and seeks to provide an improved understanding of foster youth, drug use and vulnerability. A total of 261 foster youth, who had exited care, contributed to a quantitative survey, and a further 35 provided qualitative narratives of their lived experience. Key risk factors including experience of homelessness, school exclusion and living setting are identified as strong influences that predict high levels of drug use among foster youth. Targeted social support and interventions in the form of pre-leaving care in the context of a strong practitioner/youth relationship are suggested to help ameliorate poor outcomes to obviate the problem of substance misuse among foster youth. •Risks including homelessness, school exclusion and living setting are strong influences that predict high levels of drug use among foster youth.•Pre-leaving support eg opportunities for further education, and creating supportive relationships between carers and young people is vital.•Interventions that target appropriate behavioural and emotional difficulties are crucial.•A supportive relationship between foster youth and practitioners which develops through a persistent and consistent approach is essential.•Future research needs to examine practices that can help identify a more nuanced picture of social support.