NCJ Number
218614
Date Published
2007
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the risk, protective factors, and resilience to drug use by youth in the United Kingdom.
Abstract
Researchers generally agree that there are multiple risk factors that combine to influence an individual to use drugs. Among the risk factors frequently mentioned in the research literature are poor parental discipline, lack of family cohesion, inadequate parental monitoring, peer drug use, drug availability, genetic profile, low self-esteem, hedonistic attitudes, poor mental health, and parental substance use. These risk factors are not static, as they have different predictive strengths throughout childhood and adolescence. Protective factors, defined as factors likely to prevent an individual from using drugs, include good parenting, having close friends who do not use drugs, knowledge of the harmful effects of drug use, having strong religious values, high self-esteem, and good social skills. "Resilience" is defined as behaviors and methods youths use in deciding not to use drugs in the face of being exposed to peer drug use and other risk factors. Youth who show resilience are characterized by having a significant amount of insight into the harmful effects of various types of drugs and the reasons why their peers use drugs. Based on their analysis of such information, they reject drug use because of their preferences for a lifestyle and relationships without drug involvement, the practical difficulties of being a drug user, and the negative physical and psychological effects of drugs compared to their benefits. This report is based on key findings from a 2004 study that included a literature review, analysis of the 2003 Offending Crime and Justice Survey (OCJS), and a qualitative study of the views and experiences of a sample of youth from the OCJS considered resilient to drug use. 1 table and 13 references