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Substance Abuse Among Juvenile Delinquents and Gang Members

NCJ Number
133568
Author(s)
J A Pollard; G Austin
Date Published
1990
Length
43 pages
Annotation
Recent research regarding the relationship among juvenile delinquency, juvenile drug abuse, and juvenile gangs has produced a consensus regarding the existence of an underlying deviance factor associated with various deviant or risk-taking behaviors in adolescence and suggests strategies to reduce the prevalence of drug abuse and juvenile delinquency through prevention and intervention programs.
Abstract
Existing data show a strong statistical correlation between juvenile delinquency and the level of alcohol and other drug use in adolescents as well as a strong association between drug abuse, drug trafficking, and juvenile gangs. The results indicate that intervention programs must be prepared to address multiple problem behaviors and must provide multiple services that will respond to the particular group of risk factors in each adolescent. New and innovative programs around the country are already recognizing these and related considerations. Lists and abstracts of studies and 160 references