NCJ Number
214661
Journal
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: 2006 Pages: 1-36
Date Published
2006
Length
36 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between psychological functioning and lifetime and past year drug involvement among youths entering a Juvenile Arbitration Program in Florida.
Abstract
Results indicated that 37 percent of youths entering the Juvenile Arbitration Program in Florida had used substances other than tobacco or alcohol during the past year. Findings also revealed that youths with greater drug involvement experienced more psychosocial problems. Indeed, the authors discovered that many of the drug involved youth were experiencing serious difficulties in several important developmental areas, which is contrary to the public perception of youths involved in diversion programs. The findings suggest that youths involved in diversion are in need of more, and not fewer, intervention services, particularly to deal with the high percentage of co-occurring drug addiction and emotional/psychosocial problems found in delinquent youth. Participants were 165 youth who entered the Juvenile Arbitration Program between June 2002 and June 2003. Data consisted of initial interviews conducted prior to youths receiving intervention services. Interview questions focused on substance use, including the use of tobacco, over the counter drugs, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates/sedatives, inhalants, and opiates. Information about the sample was also obtained from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Data analysis involved the calculation of descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations. Tables, references