NCJ Number
99369
Journal
Deviant Behavior Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (1985) Pages: 183-204
Date Published
1985
Length
22 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this paper is to determine the nature of the drug-crime relationship by exploring the influence of friend behaviors on both adolescent delinquent and substance using behavior.
Abstract
The sample consists of 1381 adolescents evenly divided by gender into three groups (12, 15, and 18 years old). In general, there is an increase in intensity of substance use from the youngest to the oldest age level with male and female levels being similar within each age group. There are both age and gender differences when examining delinquent behavior. There is a relationship between adolescent drug use and crime (especially among males), however this relationship is relatively modest. In addition, while friends' behavior is a very strong predictor of the same type of behavior in subjects, there are no strong crossover relationships. Thus, the hypothesis that both types of behavior are part of a specific deviant peer subculture is not confirmed. (Publisher abstract)