Inhalant Use Among Child Welfare–Involved Adolescents

Abstract

Illicit substance use, especially of inhalants, is a public health crisis during adolescence, particularly for maltreated youths. This study advances the literature by highlighting the prevalence of inhalant use among child welfare–involved adolescents. Using the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) II data set, case-status factors, problem behaviors, deviant peers, delinquency, depression, and school peer engagement were inspected using logistic regression. Females, delinquency, deviant peers, problematic behaviors, and depression are positively related to inhalant use, whereas youth school peer engagement mitigates inhalant use. Attention to peer relationships and psychosocial risk factors is necessary for adolescents.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• child welfare
• inhalants
• peers
• substance abuse