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Delinquency and Substance Abuse: A Brief Analysis

NCJ Number
164674
Journal
Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (Fall 1996) Pages: 77-78
Author(s)
J J DeFrancesco
Date Published
1996
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Case records from 113 adjudicated delinquents who were in a State detention facility and were receiving drug treatment were analyzed to determine their drug use patterns.
Abstract
The youths ranged from 12 to 16 years of age and averaged 15.03 years. All were males. Thirty-eight percent were black, 36 percent Hispanic, and 26 percent white. Eighty-four percent came from urban settings, 12 percent from suburban settings, and 4 percent from rural areas. Ninety-three percent of the youths used marijuana, 76 percent used alcohol, 19 percent used hallucinogens, and 12 percent used cocaine and other narcotics. The average age of onset of drug use was 12.5 years. Youth started using marijuana at an average age of 11.67 years and alcohol at an average age of 12.38 years. Eighty-two percent reported being heavy users just prior to admission to the detention facility. Many of the heavy users reported being high, intoxicated, or both every day and for the entire day. Findings indicated that drug abuse among antisocial adolescents continues to be a pervasive and worrisome problem. The data on age of onset and frequency of use are particularly worrisome. 4 references