Running Head: Psychological Effect Amongst At-Risk Youth

Initiation of drug dealing among a prospective cohort of street-involved youth

Carlos H Figueroa

Everett Community College, General Psychology

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Running Head: Psychological Effect Amongst At-Risk Youth

Main Claim
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse conducted a study based out of Vancouver,

Canada where they concluded that, “homeless and stimulant drug use were key risk factors for

drug dealing”. (Hepburn, K., Barker B., Nguyen P., Dong H., Wood E., Kerr T., DeBeck K.

2016, p.1). Over 1172 participants between the ages of 14-26 were invited to part take in the

study, however, only 194 had completed a minimum of one follow up study. The usage of

stimulant drugs other than marijuana has led individuals to get involved in the world of drug

dealing to directly support their financial usage, which consecutively has led them to

homelessness. In addition, it has also increased the risks of violence and a constant involvement

with the criminal justice system. It has been proposed that housing programs, employment

opportunities and addiction treatment centers to be implemented to help prevent young adults

from falling in the illicit drug dealing and increase their economic security.

Previous Work

In association with works from other sources. In Cheng T’s works, youth who are actively

engaged in the use of drugs and drug dealing were at a higher risk of being homeless and less

than likely to transition from it. (As cited in Hepburn, 2016) However, in works mentioned by

Rachlis and Feng, once homeless the individuals were more prone to engage in risky sex and

were more than likely to get involved in the usage of injection drug use. (Rachlis & Feng, As

cited in Hepburn, 2016.) Not all drugs had the same effect, in fact every drug had perpetuated

different behaviors amongst the youth, thus leading them to get involved in riskier situations

such as participating in unsafe sex and having a constant ongoing involvement with the criminal

justice system. From previous works deriving from Cheng T and Semple SJ, the frequent usage

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Running Head: Psychological Effect Amongst At-Risk Youth

of crystal methamphetamine and other illicit drugs has led the individual to face a financial need,

thus drug dealing being their answer (Cheng T & Semple SJ, As cited in Hepburn 2016).

Counter Argument

The American Journal of Drug Abused faced a series of limitations throughout the study, first

one worth noting was that the information gathered from the youth were self-reported. This can

lead the individuals to recall bias responses and either underreport or overreport their

experiences. Another factor not mention is that the experiment was only conducted in

Vancouver, Canada. It should have included other major cities such as New York, Los Angeles,

Chicago or Toronto, and specified neighborhoods these individuals were preceding from.

Although drug dealing was predominantly pursued by males, Maher L mentions that percentage

of females did part take in drug dealing but faced more challenges than their male counter parts.

Females felt more vulnerable and were exposed to greater risk of experiencing violence within

the drug dealing environment. (As cited in Hepburn, 2016).

Methods

The focus of study was conducted in Vancouver, Canada between September 2005 to November

2014. The information gathered by the At-Risk Youth Study was conducted using the survey

method. For the most part, participants were males who were in between the ages of 14-26 years

of age who had used illicit drugs such as crack, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc. in the past 30

days. Participants part took in a series of questionnaires related to their demographic, substance

usage, health, incomed. After each visit, the participants, were paid $30 Canadian dollars (CDN).

As researched continued based of the variety of participants, it was concluded that those who

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Running Head: Psychological Effect Amongst At-Risk Youth

used drugs found themselves dealing as well to continue their usage, however, not all drugs had

the same effect, each individual drug, affected the persons behavior in a different way.

Sample

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse gathered their information from the At-Risk

Youth Study (ARYS). Data was gathered between September 2005 and November 2014 in

Vancouver, Canada. 1172 participants were recruited to participate in the study, however by the

time the study was conducted only 194 of them had completed at least one follow up study,

which made them eligible for the analysis. More than half of the participants were of the male

gender; the average age was of 21 years and average number of follow up studies conducted was

3. The Providence Health Care/University of British Columbia’s research ethics board approved

of the study and compensated the participant with $30 CDN for their time. The participants were

not in a controlled atmosphere, the information and data gathered from the participants were self-

reported, thus information could have been over or under reported. However, the self-reported

information was shown to be accurate in relation to the substance abuse within the various youth

populations.

Conclusion

Different have a way of affecting our lives, especially the youth. Although categorized as illicit

drugs, they all have a distinction of outcome amongst the individual. Crystal methamphetamine

has been linked to drug dealing and homelessness amongst at-risk youth. Whilst both males and

females part took in the survey; females had a feeling of vulnerability and were at a higher risk

of facing violence, while males who were an average age of 21 were the most prone to be

involved in illicit drug dealing to sustain their financial drug usage and were subjected to a

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Running Head: Psychological Effect Amongst At-Risk Youth

constant run in with the criminal justice system. In order to help and prevent the youth from

involving themselves in the world of drugs, by implementing youth-centric stimulant addiction

treatment centers, housing systems, employment opportunities and economic security can be

provided for the youth to prevent the initiation of drug dealing.

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Running Head: Psychological Effect Amongst At-Risk Youth

Reference:

Hepburn, K., Barker B., Nguyen P., Dong H., Wood E., Kerr T., DeBeck K. (2016).

Initiation of drug dealing among a prospective cohort of street-involved youth. The American

Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 42.