NCJ Number
164787
Date Published
1993
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The pilot data-collection study reported in this paper estimated the level of substance abuse in juveniles admitted to the Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center in Laurel, Md., and tested the collection procedures that would be used in other Maryland juvenile detention facilities.
Abstract
The pilot study began September 16, 1992, and concluded December 15, 1992; this report describes the 263 youths who were interviewed and provided a testable urine specimen. Sixty-seven percent of the youths were males, and the majority of the males were between the ages of 14 and 15; the majority of the females were between 15 and 16 years old. Seventy-seven of the males and 66 percent of the females were African-Americans. The study concluded that significant drug and alcohol problems existed among the adolescent admissions to Waxter. Thirteen percent of the boys reported that they were currently dependent on alcohol. Youths consistently underreported their recent use of illegal drugs, even in interviews conducted by the nursing staff. By age 16, more than 20 percent of the youths tested positive for a drug, suggesting the need for early prevention. The new model, which used on-site medical staff to obtain interviews and urine specimens, was successful. Urine testing programs for youth may benefit from using the 20 ng/ml cutoff to identify more marijuana-using youths. Most of these high-risk youths were still attending school and may be accessible to school-based drug prevention and intervention programs. 6 tables, 1 figure, and appended interview instrument and sample responses from interview questions about "new drugs on the street"