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Aggressive behavior and opportunities to purchase drugs
1Department of Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, ELCID@893, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|June 22, 2001
Summary
Aggressive youth are more likely to be offered illicit drugs. However, this link is weaker when considering delinquency, suggesting delinquent behavior may be more important for drug purchase opportunities.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Public Health
Background:
- Youthful aggression and deviance are linked to later illicit drug use.
- Some theories propose drug use as a symptom of conduct disorder or problem behavior syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that aggressive youth are more likely to be approached with drug offers.
- To explore the relationship between aggression, delinquency, and drug purchase opportunities.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the association between aggression levels and drug purchase offers in youth.
- Examined how delinquency influences the aggression-drug offer relationship.
Main Results:
- Highly aggressive youths were approximately five times more likely to be offered drugs.
- The association between aggression and drug offers diminished when delinquency was considered.
- Delinquent behavior appeared more salient than aggression in this context.
Conclusions:
- Findings support but also extend problem behavior theories.
- Suggests aggression and delinquency may increase exposure to drug dealing environments.
- Highlights the role of observable behaviors in drug purchase opportunities.