Subjects, primarily black and Hispanic, were interviewed as part of a larger study of drug abuse prevention with homeless adolescents. They completed face-to-face structured interviews that elicited information on self-reported drug use and intentions to use drugs in the future, background information, and information on social influence variables and individual characteristics hypothesized to promote drug use. Logistic regression analyses revealed age, academic achievement, social influences (friends and family drug use) and several psychological factors (psychological well-being, assertiveness, and social support) were predictors of experimental drug use and intentions to use drugs. Implications of the findings for effective drug prevention programs for homeless and other high- risk youth are discussed. 36 references and 4 tables