U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Drug Use Among Youth on Probation: Differences in Characteristics and Explanatory Factors

NCJ Number
169922
Journal
Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (1997) Pages: 45-62
Author(s)
J R Lopez
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined correlations among adolescent drug use and family relationships, aspirations, school involvement, and delinquent behaviors.
Abstract
Data were obtained from a study of drug use among 475 juvenile probationers in Utah (Jenson, 1992). Subjects provided information on their gender, ethnicity, age, experiences with family and friends, exposure to gang activities, school, aspirations, drug-use levels, and effects from drug use. A random sample was selected from areas where large numbers of youth on probation resided. Marijuana and alcohol use were the dependent variables in the study. These variables were categorized in three ways: "nonusers," "experimenters," and "high users." Marijuana and alcohol use were measured over a 12-month period. Analysis of variance was used to identify differences among nonusers, experimenters, and high users. A stepwise multiple regression was used to examine factors related to drug use. Friends' alcohol or marijuana use, plans for future drug use during adulthood, and selling drugs were significantly related to both marijuana and alcohol use. There were differences in explanatory factors among youth who used drugs once a week or more over the past 12 months, youth who either had not used or had only used drugs once in the past 12 months, and youth whose drug-use behaviors were between these two extremes. A comparison of drug-use levels among youth on probation and the general population of youth in Utah shows that juvenile probationers have higher drug-use patterns. The findings suggest that many youth on probation may need intense levels of intervention. Such intervention should address the characteristics of drug users noted in this study, such as the influence of sibling, father, and friend drug use, and spending time with the family. The multiple regression analysis identified three similar factors related to both alcohol and marijuana use: friends' marijuana/alcohol use, plans to use marijuana/alcohol in adulthood, and selling drugs. These three variables clustered together suggest a world view that may be embraced in adolescence. Youth tend to embrace a lifestyle and support that lifestyle choice with their behaviors. Intervention, based on an identification of lifestyle choices, is a reasonable course of action to change drug-use behaviors. 6 tables and 13 references