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Runaway History and Past 30-Day Opioid Misuse in Justice-Involved Adolescents
Micah E Johnson1, Shawnta L Lloyd2, Skye C Bristol3
1Department of Mental Health Law and Policy in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida.
Juvenile & Family Court Journal
|December 27, 2021
Summary
Adolescents involved in the justice system with a history of running away were significantly more likely to misuse opioids. This highlights the need for interventions supporting stable home environments for at-risk youth.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Adolescent Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Juvenile justice systems often encounter adolescents with complex histories.
- Opioid misuse is a significant public health concern among youth.
- Runaway behavior can be an indicator of underlying social and emotional challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between runaway history and opioid misuse in justice-involved adolescents.
- To identify specific risk factors within the justice-involved adolescent population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large dataset (n=79,960) from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
- Confirmation of past 30-day opioid misuse via urine analysis.
- Statistical comparison of opioid misuse rates based on runaway history.
Main Results:
- Adolescents with any lifetime runaway history were twice as likely to misuse opioids.
- Adolescents who were runaways at the time of arrest were three times as likely to misuse opioids.
- These associations remained significant among justice-involved youth.
Conclusions:
- Runaway history is a strong predictor of opioid misuse in justice-involved adolescents.
- Interventions should address the need for stable attachment bonds and supportive environments.
- Targeted support for runaways within the juvenile justice system is crucial.
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