COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ADOLESCENT DRUG USERS, ASSAULTERS AND AUTO THIEVES

• NCJ Number: 7339
• Author(s): J H MCGRATH
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 317 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STUDY OF MALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS, FOCUSING ON THE DRUG USER AND DRAWING ON PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF THE ETIOLOGY OF DRUG USE.

Abstract

THE SAMPLE WAS COMPOSED OF 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS WHO HAD APPEARED BEFORE THE ESSEX COUNTY JUVENILE COURT IN NEW JERSEY. THE SUBJECTS WERE HEROIN AND BARBITUATE USERS, AS WELL AS AUTO THIEVES AND ASSAULTERS. ALL OF WHOM HAD NO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS. THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT AMONG THESE SUBJECTS, DRUG USE WAS PREDOMINATELY A WHITE PHENOMENON. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT WHITE BARBITUATE USERS' AND BLACK ASSAULTERS' FAMILIES WERE COMPARATIVELY THE MOST ELEVATED ON SOCIOECONOMIC AND FAMILY STABILITY INDICATORS. THE RESULTS ON DRUG USE ARE VIEWED IN LIGHT OF A THEORY OF RETREATISM AND EXTENSIONS THEREOF. AS DEFINED BY R.T. MERTON, THE RETREATIST IS ONE WHO CANNOT ACHIEVE SOCIALLY PRESCRIBED GOALS BY DEVIANT MEANS BECAUSE HE HAS INTERNALIZED THE ETHICS OF HIS CLASS AGAINST SUCH INNOVATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (BIBLIOGRAPHY)