Year: 2008 Source: The American Journal on Addictions, v.17, no.3, (May-June 2008), p.224-234 SIEC No: 20080770

684 homeless youths in eight cities participated in this study to understand the rates & correlates of substance use. Rates of lifetime & recent substance use ranged from 66-90%. Variability in lifetime & recent substance use was partially explained by characteristics such as being white (ages 14-17), ever attempting suicide (ages 14-17), & not being African American (lifetime substance use) or Hispanic (ages 18-24). 56 of 181 youth under age 18 had ever attempted suicide while 190 of 503 youths, 18 years & older, had ever attempted suicide. (42 refs)