NCJ Number
126534
Date Published
1988
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The second annual summary of juvenile drug use trends in the District of Columbia as measured by 1988 initial test results. This report of the Juvenile Drug Detection and Monitoring Program presents data on overall drug use, cocaine, and PCP use; overall monthly positive trends; trends by sex and age and drug use and crime; charge breakdowns for cocaine users and nonusers; charge breakdowns for younger juveniles; and differences in drug combinations recorded.
Abstract
Program goals include providing the court with confirmed drug abuse information for use in determining appropriate release conditions; offering follow-up monitoring services for juveniles pending adjudication, including referrals to treatment and counseling; and apprising the court of updated test information and program performance data. In 1988, the juvenile program tested 4,565 juveniles charged as delinquents prior to their first appearance in court. Thirty percent of the total number of juveniles had an initial positive test, representing a decrease of 5 percent from 1987 statistics. Cocaine positives increased from a yearly average of 14 percent in 1987 to 22 percent in 1988. PCP use continued to decrease from the 1-month high of 34 percent registered in June 1987 to the low of 4 percent reported in May and June 1989. Overall drug use trends showed no significant change throughout 1988. Cocaine positive juveniles were more likely to be charged with a drug offense; nonusers were charged more frequently with property offenses.