DRUG USE AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR OF SMALL TOWN AND RURAL YOUTH

• NCJ Number: 45588
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: (1977-1978) Pages: 219-224
• Author(s): M A FORSLUND
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 6 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72A-020221
• Sponsoring Agency: Wyoming Governor's Planning Cmtte on Criminal Admin
• Sale Source: University of Wyoming
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FINDINGS FROM A SELF-REPORT SURVEY OF SENIOR STUDENTS AT TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN FREMONT COUNTY, WYO., ARE REPORTED.

Abstract

THE SURVEY SOUGHT TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRUG USE AND INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER TYPES OF DELINQUENT ACTIVITIES AMONG SMALL-TOWN AND RURAL YOUTH. THE SUBJECTS -- 456 MALES AND 31 FEMALES -- WERE STUDENTS AT A HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED IN A TOWN OF APPROXIMATELY 8,000 POPULATION AND A SECOND SCHOOL LOCATED IN A RURAL AREA. THE STUDY FOUND THAT 79.8 PERCENT OF MALES AND 81.8 PERCENT OF FEMALES HAD USED NEITHER MARIJUANA NOR OTHER DRUGS IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE SURVEY; 12.5 PERCENT OF MALES AND 7.7 PERCENT OF FEMALES HAD USED MARIJUANA BUT NOT OTHER DRUGS; AND 6.6 PERCENT OF MALES AND 9.0 PERCENT OF FEMALES HAD USED BOTH MARIJUANA AND OTHER DRUGS. A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP WAS FOUND BETWEEN DRUG USE AND INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER FORMS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, PARTICULARLY AMONG MALES. THE FINDINGS ALSO SUGGEST THAT DRUG USERS TEND TO HAVE POORER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PARENTS AND WITH THE SCHOOL THAN IS THE CASE WITH NONUSERS. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED.