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Heavy Marijuana Use and Crime Among Youths Entering a Juvenile Detention Center

NCJ Number
114896
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-March 1987) Pages: 47-56
Author(s)
R Dembo; M Washburn; E D Wish; H Yeung; A Getreu; E Berry; W R Blount
Date Published
1987
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This 1985 study examined the feasibility and accuracy of drug urinalysis for marijuana/hash hish use and the relationship between previous delinquent behavior and drug use in a sample of 81 Florida detainees.
Abstract
Of these youth, screening interviews were completed with 77, and 66 provided a urine specimen for analysis. Only 7 of the 81 (9 percent) refused to provide urine specimens, indicating that voluntary urinalysis within the juvenile justice system is feasible. Urinalysis showed high rates of drug use, with 35 (53 percent) of the urine specimens testing positive for at least 1 of 7 substances. Cannabinoids were identified in the urine of all but one youth testing positive for drugs. Youths tended to underreport their drug use, with 6 of 32 youth who denied cannabinoid use testing positive for this drug, and 2 of 4 youth denied cocaine use showing positive test results. Of 38 youth claiming to have used marijuana or hash hish in the week prior to entering the detention center, 26 (68 percent) tested positive for cannabinoids; and both detainees with claimed cocaine use tested positive for this drug. Finally, youth who tested positive for cannabinoids were twice as likely as cannabinoid-negative youth to have court referrals for nondrug felony offenses. 6 tables, 2 notes, and 21 references.

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