Juvenile crime and drug abuse: a prospective study of high risk youth

Results from an ongoing, longitudinal study of juvenile detainees focusing on the relationship between their drug use and delinquency/crime, are summarized. Three hundred and ninety-nine youths were first interviewed in 1986/87, and 41 percent were found to be urine positive for recent drug use at the time of detention. We reinterviewed 305 of the youths approximately one year later, and found their drug use and delinquency persisted, and in some cases increased, over time. Treatment intervention is needed for the drug involved youths in the study to reduce their cycle of drug use and crime.