Theory of Drug Use and Delinquency Among High-Risk Youths (From Juvenile Justice: Policies, Programs, and Services, Second Edition, P 273-311, 1998, Albert R. Roberts, ed. - See NCJ 170093)

• NCJ Number: 170107
• Author(s): R Dembo; L Williams; J Schmeidler
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 39 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1 R01 DA06657-01
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: Nelson-Hall Publishers
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This chapter summarizes 6 years of research on drug use and delinquency among a group of high-risk youths.

Abstract

This chapter summarizes more than 6 years of longitudinal research involving a cohort of 399 youths who first entered a regional detention center in West Florida in 1986-87. The findings are organized around four themes: (1) general and specific aspects of deviant behavior; (2) the relationship between alcohol and other drug use and delinquency and crime; (3) relative deviance and the youths' alcohol and other drug use and delinquency and crime; and (4) a developmental damage view of the effects of the youths' early abuse and troubled family background experiences on their illicit drug use, delinquency and crime, and emotional problems. The chapter includes a review of the literature and a discussion of research methods. For many of the youths in the study, the only services they ever received came as a consequence of their involvement in the juvenile justice system. Investing in effective services for them early in their lives could save much human potential and reduce the personal and social costs of their delinquent and criminal behavior. The chapter includes discussion questions based on the information presented. Tables, figures, appendix, references