NCJ Number
149862
Date Published
1994
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Problems asociated with adolescent drug abuse and drug dealing, particularly in poor and minority communities in large urban areas, are examined, and the relationship between drug abuse and crime is discussed.
Abstract
Many teenagers face serious choices about how to handle the drug culture and the drug economy. Adolescents usually become involved in drugs by first selling drugs on the street; many also use drugs and become addicted. Addiction treatment professionals frequently indicate that if one parent is addicted, the child has a 50 percent chance of becoming addicted. Police become involved with adolescent drug dealers as part of law enforcement and in response to drug-related violence. Courts are overburdened with alcohol and drug-related cases and often assign juveniles to programs that aim to prevent future criminal activity and drug addiction. Programs for drug-involved juveniles include assessment, medical short-term treatment, the therapeutic community, and day treatment. Treatment should address the employment, emotional, and recreational needs of young people in order to be effective. Further, treatment staff should include recovering addicts, a significant number of males, and counselors who represent the same racial mix and social class as the clients being treated. Drug programs for juveniles should also recognize that violence and drug dealing are serious problems in inner cities where economic opportunities are limited. 20 references and 2 tables