Network Theory: A Model for Understanding Drug Abuse Among African-American and Hispanic Youth

Abstract

No significant differences are found in the density or multiplexity of friendship networks of adolescent drug users and non-users. However, users are more likely than non-users to have friends from the same neighborhood, to have more intimate friendship networks, and to change friends over time. Users are less likely to have friends from the same school and to have parents involved in extracurricular activities. Networks of White users and non-users are more similar than those of Hispanics or African Americans.

Key Words:

• Drug use
• Hispanic
• African American
• Peer network
• Neighborhood
• Family