NCJ Number
159397
Date Published
1990
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This review of the available research literature focuses on the general connection between delinquency and the use of alcohol and other drugs, with a specific emphasis on juvenile gang affiliation, as well as the prevention implications of this correlation.
Abstract
The first section reviews current knowledge regarding the extent of alcohol and other drug use among delinquents and the extent of delinquency among juvenile alcohol and drug users; the extent to which delinquency and alcohol and other drug use represent a common underlying factor of deviance or unconventionality, and the extent to which drug use is caused by factors specific to themselves; and the issue of whether alcohol and other drug use leads to delinquency or the reverse. The report discusses research pertaining to the involvement of juvenile gang members in alcohol and other drug use, drug dealing, and other criminal and violent behavior. Prevention programs for this population should be designed to deal with multiple problem behaviors and to provide services that will respond to various constellations of risk factors. The document contains abstracts of relevant research studies and papers. 159 references