People and places: Relocating to neighborhoods with better economic and social conditions is associated with less risky drug/alcohol network characteristics among African American adults in Atlanta, GA. (1st March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Linton, Sabriya L.; Cooper, Hannah L.F.; Luo, Ruiyan; Karnes, Conny; Renneker, Kristen; Haley, Danielle F.; Hunter-Jones, Josalin; Ross, Zev; Bonney, Loida; Rothenberg, Richard
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 160(2016)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2016-03-01
• Subjects: Substance use -- Social networks -- Neighborhood characteristics -- Social epidemiology -- Longitudinal analysis -- US; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Highlights: Less economic disadvantage was associated with fewer drug/alcohol network members. Less economic disadvantage was associated with less turnover into drug/alcohol networks. Better social conditions were associated with fewer drug/alcohol network members. Better social conditions were associated with less turnover into drug/alcohol networks. Better social conditions were associated with more turnover out of drug/alcohol networks. Abstract: Background: Few studies assess whether place characteristics are associated with social network characteristics that create vulnerability to substance use. Methods: This longitudinal study analyzed 7 waves of data (2009–2014) from a predominantly substance-using cohort of 172 African American adults relocated from public housing complexes in Atlanta, GA, to determine whether post-relocation changes in exposure to neighborhood conditions were associated with four network characteristics related to substance use: number of social network members who used illicit drugs or alcohol in excess in the past six months ("drug/alcohol network"), drug/alcohol network stability, and turnover into and out of drug/alcohol networks. Individual- and network-level characteristics were captured via survey and administrative data were used to describe census tracts where participants lived. Multilevel models were used to assess relationships of census tract-level characteristics to network outcomes over time. Results: On average, participants relocated to census tracts that had less economic disadvantage, social disorder, and renter-occupied housing. Post-relocation reductions in exposure to economic disadvantage were associated with fewer drug/alcohol network members and less turnover into drug/alcohol networks. Post-relocation improvements in exposure to multiple census tract-level social conditions and reductions in perceived community violence were associated with fewer drug/alcohol network members, less turnover into drug/alcohol networks, less drug/alcohol network stability, and more turnover out of drug/alcohol networks. Conclusion: Relocating to neighborhoods with less economic disadvantage and better social conditions may weaken relationships with substance-using individuals.