174850 Risk behaviors of runaway youth who return home (S/A)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Michael Oldham, MPH , School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Elizabeth Arnold, PhD , Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Mark Wolfson, PhD , Division of Public Health Sciences/Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Eun-Young Song, PhD , Division of Public Health Sciences/Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Claudine Legault, PhD , Division of Public Health Sciences/Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Objective: Research shows higher rates of substance use, including tobacco, and other risk behaviors among runaway youth; however, most studies involve chronic runaways in shelters or on the streets. Since the majority of runaways ultimately return home, the current study investigates risk behaviors among this population. Methods: Data are from a telephone survey of a random sample of youth from 8 states (CT, IL, ME, MD, NV, NY, NC & VA), age 16-20 years (n=1,191). A multivariate model was created using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach. Results: Seventy-three (6%) of the youth had run away in their lifetime. More than half (60.3%) of those had runaway by the age of 15, and 49% had run away 2 or more times. A history of running away was significantly associated with every risk behavior examined. The adjusted odds ratios for runaway status were higher for all behaviors (alcohol use, binge drinking, illegal prescription drug use, tobacco use, and sex without birth control) compared to non-runaways. Conclusions: Despite the fact that most runaway adolescents return home, the reasons for having run away are not necessarily eliminated and, as evidenced here, there remain dramatically increased odds of substance use and other risk behaviors. Because of the known and potential deleterious health effects of substance use and risky sexual behavior, policies and interventions should target root causes of running away among adolescents to help alleviate poor health and social outcomes.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe differences in background characteristics and risk behaviors between youth who runaway and return home versus youth who have no history of running away. 2. Understand the relationship between a history of running away and specific risk behaviors. 3. Recognize policy issues that impact runaway youth and consider recommendations for prevention of future running away behavior among youth with histories of running away.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Participated in meetings/discussions on data analysis. Conducted literature review on specific topic of abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.