Table 2.

Results of multivariate linear regressions predicting average number of drinks per day and average number of cigarettes per day past 30 days, and negative binomial regression predicting number of times used marijuana past 30 days (weighted analyses). N = 419

	Substance use past 30 days
	Average number cigarettes per day	Average number drinks per day	Times used marijuana
	Coeff¹ (SE)	Coeff (SE)	Coeff (SE)
Predictor Variables
Background characteristics
Age	−0.496 (0.232) ^*	−0.164 (0.155)	0.011 (0.051)
Black (vs. other)	−4.297 (1.158) ^**	−2.124 (0.722) ^**	−0.062 (0.252)
Hispanic (vs. other)	−3.682 (1.224) ^**	−2.032 (0.711) ^**	0.004 (0.289)
Gender (male)	1.661 (0.964)	0.578 (0.725)	0.211 (0.273)
Gay, lesbian, bisexual²	0.300 (1.118)	−1.843 (0.619) ^**	0.172 (0.251)
Education (at least H.S. or GED)	−0.747 (1.091)	0.045 (0.804)	0.088 (0.213)
Employed half-, full-time	1.993 (1.619)	−0.636 (0.549)	0.217 (0.308)
Jail/detention lifetime³	1.629 (0.646) ^*	−0.030 (0.441)	0.035 (0.162)
Never returned home after leaving the first time	−1.444 (1.084)	−0.256 (0.728)	0.319 (0.204)
Age when first left home⁴	0.526 (0.535)	−0.205 (0.404)	−0.309 (0.099) ^*
Personal network characteristics
Types of alters (number):
Relatives	0.099 (0.156)	0.102 (0.103)	0.035 (0.038)
Sex partners	0.189 (0.283)	0.216 (0.208)	0.087 (0.068)
Adults in positions of responsibility	−0.572 (0.306)	−0.305 (0.148) ^*	−0.083 (0.110)
How non-relative alters were met (number):
Shelter, drop-in center, or on the street	0.139 (0.121)	0.007 (0.087)	0.043 (0.020) ^*
Through drug or alcohol use	0.500 (0.314)	0.788 (0.170) ^**	0.040 (0.051)
Through treatment or self-help group (e.g. AA/NA)	0.956 (1.121)	−0.641 (0.411)	−0.572 (0.287) ^*
Behavior of alters (number):
Drinks heavily or uses drugs⁵	0.395 (0.092) ^**	0.118 (0.060) ^*	0.143 (0.018) ^**
Attends school regularly	−0.505 (0.107) ^**	−0.133 (0.061) ^*	−0.013 (0.027)
Has a regular or steady job	−0.012 (0.115)	−0.117 (0.079)	−0.020 (0.023)
Structure:
Alcohol or drug sub-group density⁶	0.164 (2.438)	3.193 (2.320)	0.994 (0.614)

Unstandardized regression coefficients are reported.

A dichotomous variable was used because none of the defined sexual orientations (i.e. gay/lesbian or bisexual) differed in comparison to heterosexual orientation when examined in association with substance use

Jail/detention lifetime is an ordinal variable as shown in Table 1

⁴

Age first left home is an ordinal variable as shown in Table 1

⁵

Due to the high level of association between the number of alters using alcohol and the number of alters using drugs, we derived and used one variable in each regression to reflect the number of alters using either alcohol or drugs.

⁶

Due to the high level of association between the density of the alcohol using subgroup and the density of the drug using subgroup, we derived and used one variable in each regression to reflect the subgroup density of alters using either alcohol or drugs. Results depicted for alcohol or drug subgroup density were derived from separate regression models in which density replaced the number of alters using alcohol or drugs, as explained in the Methods.

p < .05;

^**

p < .01