Abstract
Background: Little is known about material resources among drug users beyond income. Income measures can be insensitive to variation among the poor, do not account for variation in cost-of-living, and are subject to non-response bias and underreporting. Further, most do not include illegal income sources that may be relevant to drug-using populations. Methods: We explored the reliability and validity of an 18-item material resource scale and describe correlates of adequate resources among 1593 current, former and non-drug users recruited in New York City. Reliability was determined using coefficient α, ω h, and factor analysis. Criterion validity was explored by comparing item and mean scores by income and income source using ANOVA; content validity analyses compared scores by drug use. Multiple linear regression was used to describe correlates of adequate resources. Results: The coefficient α and ω h for the overall scale were 0.91 and 0.68, respectively, suggesting reliability was at least adequate. Legal income >$5000 (vs. ≤$5000) and formal (vs. informal) income sources were associated with more resources, supporting criterion validity. We observed decreasing resources with increasing drug use severity, supporting construct validity. Three factors were identified: basic needs, economic resources and services. Many did not have their basic needs met and few had adequate economic resources. Correlates of adequate material resources included race/ethnicity, income, income source, and homelessness. Conclusions: The 18-item material resource scale demonstrated reliability and validity among drug users. These data provide a different view of poverty, one that details specific challenges faced by low-income communities.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 127-134 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Drug and Alcohol Dependence |
| Volume | 120 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Factor analysis
- Former drug users
- Injection drug users
- Material deprivation
- Non-injection drug users
- Poverty
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacology (medical)
Cite this
Beyond income : Material resources among drug users in economically-disadvantaged New York City neighborhoods. / Ompad, Danielle C.; Nandi, Vijay; Cerda, Magdalena; Crawford, Natalie; Galea, Sandro; Vlahov, David.
In: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol. 120, No. 1-3, 01.01.2012, p. 127-134.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Beyond income
T2 - Material resources among drug users in economically-disadvantaged New York City neighborhoods
AU - Ompad, Danielle C.
AU - Nandi, Vijay
AU - Cerda, Magdalena
AU - Crawford, Natalie
AU - Galea, Sandro
AU - Vlahov, David
PY - 2012/1/1
Y1 - 2012/1/1
N2 - Background: Little is known about material resources among drug users beyond income. Income measures can be insensitive to variation among the poor, do not account for variation in cost-of-living, and are subject to non-response bias and underreporting. Further, most do not include illegal income sources that may be relevant to drug-using populations. Methods: We explored the reliability and validity of an 18-item material resource scale and describe correlates of adequate resources among 1593 current, former and non-drug users recruited in New York City. Reliability was determined using coefficient α, ω h, and factor analysis. Criterion validity was explored by comparing item and mean scores by income and income source using ANOVA; content validity analyses compared scores by drug use. Multiple linear regression was used to describe correlates of adequate resources. Results: The coefficient α and ω h for the overall scale were 0.91 and 0.68, respectively, suggesting reliability was at least adequate. Legal income >$5000 (vs. ≤$5000) and formal (vs. informal) income sources were associated with more resources, supporting criterion validity. We observed decreasing resources with increasing drug use severity, supporting construct validity. Three factors were identified: basic needs, economic resources and services. Many did not have their basic needs met and few had adequate economic resources. Correlates of adequate material resources included race/ethnicity, income, income source, and homelessness. Conclusions: The 18-item material resource scale demonstrated reliability and validity among drug users. These data provide a different view of poverty, one that details specific challenges faced by low-income communities.
AB - Background: Little is known about material resources among drug users beyond income. Income measures can be insensitive to variation among the poor, do not account for variation in cost-of-living, and are subject to non-response bias and underreporting. Further, most do not include illegal income sources that may be relevant to drug-using populations. Methods: We explored the reliability and validity of an 18-item material resource scale and describe correlates of adequate resources among 1593 current, former and non-drug users recruited in New York City. Reliability was determined using coefficient α, ω h, and factor analysis. Criterion validity was explored by comparing item and mean scores by income and income source using ANOVA; content validity analyses compared scores by drug use. Multiple linear regression was used to describe correlates of adequate resources. Results: The coefficient α and ω h for the overall scale were 0.91 and 0.68, respectively, suggesting reliability was at least adequate. Legal income >$5000 (vs. ≤$5000) and formal (vs. informal) income sources were associated with more resources, supporting criterion validity. We observed decreasing resources with increasing drug use severity, supporting construct validity. Three factors were identified: basic needs, economic resources and services. Many did not have their basic needs met and few had adequate economic resources. Correlates of adequate material resources included race/ethnicity, income, income source, and homelessness. Conclusions: The 18-item material resource scale demonstrated reliability and validity among drug users. These data provide a different view of poverty, one that details specific challenges faced by low-income communities.
KW - Factor analysis
KW - Former drug users
KW - Injection drug users
KW - Material deprivation
KW - Non-injection drug users
KW - Poverty
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84155172813&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84155172813&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.07.008
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.07.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 21835561
AN - SCOPUS:84155172813
VL - 120
SP - 127
EP - 134
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
SN - 0376-8716
IS - 1-3
ER -