ABSTRACT

Transitioning to adulthood may be more challenging, and lead to greater negative outcomes, when a youth uses drugs. This study examined the unique effects of foster care experiences on marijuana use in young adults aged 18–25 (N = 185), controlling for mental health, trauma history, and child maltreatment type. Compared to a low-income control sample, foster care alumni were more likely to report trauma exposure, anxiety, and daily marijuana use. Hierarchical linear showed that trauma exposure and physical abuse both predicted marijuana use in foster care alumni, as did entering foster care at a younger age and spending more time in care.

摘要

当青少年使用毒品时，过渡到成年可能更具挑战性，并导致更大的负面后果。这项研究检查了寄养护理经验对18-25岁（N = 185）的年轻人使用大麻的独特影响，控制了心理健康，创伤史和儿童虐待类型。与低收入对照样本相比，寄养校友更有可能报告创伤暴露，焦虑和日常使用大麻。分层线性表明，创伤暴露和身体虐待都预测大麻在寄养服务校友中的使用，就像在年轻时进入寄养服务并花费更多的时间在照料中一样。