ABSTRACT
Introduction For several decades, researchers have investigated the impact of substance use on commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) or prostitution during adolescence and young adulthood (Evans, Forsyth, and Gauthier 2002; Inciardi, Lockwood, and Pettieger 1993; Inciardi, Surratt, and Kurtz 2006). Most studies investigating the links between CSE/ prostitution and substance use have used dichotomous or pooled variables representing any type of drug use and/or alcohol use when examining the connections between substance use and CSE/prostitution (Lavoie et al. 2010; Martin, Hearst, and Widome 2010; Reid 2011, 2014; Reid and Piquero 2014; Roe-Sepowitz 2012; Wilson and Widom 2010), which may hide important variability with respect to frequency and variety of substance use. Several studies have examined connections between a single or very limited pool of substances and CSE/prostitution, such as crack cocaine, heroin, or alcohol (Golder and Logan 2007; Li, Li, and Stanton 2010; Maxwell and Maxwell 2000), with a smaller number of studies differentiating between a wide-ranging array of substances based on their association with CSE/prostitution (Clarke et al. 2012; Edwards, Iritani, and Hallfors 2006; Loza et al. 2010). In addition, fewer studies have explored the links between CSE/ prostitution and various types of substances among male youth (Edwards, Iritani, and
aCriminology Progra , iversity f , t. etersburg, FL, USA; bProgram of ri inology, t al as, Richardson, TX, USA; cSchool of
ri inal ti , ,
Hallfors 2006; Walls and Bell 2010). Some studies indicate that links between substance use and CSE/prostitution may be partially explained by low self-control (Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990) with sensation seeking driving both of these risky behaviors particularly in male youth (Edwards, Iritani, and Hallfors 2006; Newcomb, Clerkin, and Mustanski. 2011). The purpose of this study was to explore whether the use of certain substances was more strongly linked to CSE/prostitution than others when comparing patterns of substance use among CSE male youth over an extended period of time. In addition, the impact of impulse control on CSE/prostitution was tested. Such an investigation is unique and important because recognition of which substances are linked to greater vulnerability to CSE/prostitution could help in identifying male youth at increased risk for CSE/ prostitution and help with the development of targeted clinical treatment programs for CSE male youth.
