'Chillin', Being Dogged and Getting Buzzed': alcohol in the lives of female gang members

Gang Involvement and the Health of African American Female Adolescents

“…Other studies conducted among females have also observed an association between gang involvement and the use of illicit drugs 3,13-15,42-44 and alcohol. 3,14 Research suggests that alcohol and drugs are not used solely for enhancing social interactions with others, but also for helping to improve one's self-image and for blunting emotional and physical pain. 14 This study also documented a relationship between females involved in a gang and having nonmonogamous sex partners.…”

“…14 Although these studies have been valuable in describing the prevalence and some of the adverse health consequences associated with female gang involvement, their validity and generalizability may be limited. Generally, these findings are derived from studies of incarcerated youth, 10,16 school-based populations, 7,8 or youth in large urban areas in the West 18,14 and Midwest. 20,21 Furthermore, most studies have relied on relatively small samples of females 10,14,17,19 and adolescents' self-report 8 -16 as the primary data collection methodology to estimate the prevalence of risk behaviors and adverse outcomes.…”

“…7,8 Although statistics have not been recorded by gender, the National Youth Gang Center reported that in 1999, among gang members, 47% were Hispanic, 31% were African American, and 13% reported being white. 5 Female adolescents' gang involvement has been associated with their participation in a diverse array of health-compromising behaviors such as violence, 8 -10 risky sexual behaviors, 3,11,12 antisocial behaviors, 8,9 drug abuse, 3,[13][14][15] and alcohol abuse. 14 Although these studies have been valuable in describing the prevalence and some of the adverse health consequences associated with female gang involvement, their validity and generalizability may be limited.…”

“…5 Female adolescents' gang involvement has been associated with their participation in a diverse array of health-compromising behaviors such as violence, 8 -10 risky sexual behaviors, 3,11,12 antisocial behaviors, 8,9 drug abuse, 3,[13][14][15] and alcohol abuse. 14 Although these studies have been valuable in describing the prevalence and some of the adverse health consequences associated with female gang involvement, their validity and generalizability may be limited. Generally, these findings are derived from studies of incarcerated youth, 10,16 school-based populations, 7,8 or youth in large urban areas in the West 18,14 and Midwest.…”

“…Generally, these findings are derived from studies of incarcerated youth, 10,16 school-based populations, 7,8 or youth in large urban areas in the West 18,14 and Midwest. 20,21 Furthermore, most studies have relied on relatively small samples of females 10,14,17,19 and adolescents' self-report 8 -16 as the primary data collection methodology to estimate the prevalence of risk behaviors and adverse outcomes. It is unclear, however, whether these findings are applicable to gang-involved female adolescents who are not incarcerated or reside in other geographic regions of the United States.…”