1997 survey, more than one third of respondents age 13 to 17 considered drugs to be the most important problem facing young people

Drug use estimates

UCR

arrest data is not broken down by specific types

Self-reported drug use

half of all high school seniors have tried drugs

misses institutionalized youths, homeless youths, and school dropouts

TRENDS

1987-1996

OVERALL ARRESTS OF YOUTHS ROSE 35%

ARRESTS OF YOUTHS FOR DRUG ABUSE VIOLATIONS INCREASED BY 133 PERCENT

1998, white and Latino youths were slightly more likely than African-American youths to report having used any illicit drug during the previous 30 days.

Columbia study

shows decline in drug use among high school seniors since 1985

cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and cigarette use are seen as dangerous to health

Double Failure

Merton says that drug use is a reaction to failing to "make it" in the larger society and the criminal world.

Social Learning

Becker says it is learned and that the smoker learns to answer "Yes" to the question is it fun.

Adolescent drug use if positively reinforced in several ways, including exposure to drug-using role models.

Weakening of Social Controls

attachment to conventional others

committed to conventional institutions

involvement

beliefs

Subculture

Becker and Goode, fund that adolescent involvement in a drug-using subculture might explain why drug use persists.

University of Colorado found that associating with peers who are delinquents increases the risk of delinquency and drug use.

Family

Jurich et al found that adolescent drug abusers were more likely to have parents with authoritarian or laissez-faire discipline styles.

78 percent of parents who used marijuana had children who were drug users.

Mulhall found that latchkey children were more likely than other children to have used alcohol in the prior month.

Family

In a study of youths in a detention center, those sexually abused were more likely to be current drug users.

Robles found that among Puerto Rican high school students, those who were not close to their fathers were more likely to be drug users.

Drug-crime association

drugs user commit crimes

half of all juvenile arrestees test positive for cocaine

between 50 and 70 percent of convicted murderers were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their crime (also victims).

Incardi’s study found that three of four serious delinquents began using alcohol at age 10.

Marijuana and hashish

from 1970s to late 1980s

use among high school seniors steadily declined

1997, 50 percent have used at least once in lifetime

many street names

derived from the leaves of cannabis sativa

hashish is a concentrated form

active ingredient is THC

is not physically addictive

long-term effects are debated

Cocaine

1997, self-report found that 5.5 of high school seniors had used in last 12 months

an alkaloid derivative of coca leaves

a powerful natural stimulant

may be snorted or injected

speedballing is a mixture of cocaine and heroin

freebaseing removes the hydrochloric acid from the pure cocaine

crack contains remnants of hydrochloride and baking soda residue

crack may be smoked

Heroin

Monitoring the Future found in 1997 that 2 percent of high school seniors admit ever using heroin.

most commonly used narcotic in U.S.

derived from the opium poppy flower

extremely addictive

may be sniffed, skin-popped, or mainlined

progressive use results in addiction

withdrawals may occur

Alcohol

over 90% of high school seniors use alcohol

juveniles accounted for 3% of arrests for drunkenness in 1996

alcohol-related problems and deaths

high doses act as a sedative and depressant

Anesthetics

nervous system depressants

local and general anesthetics

PCP or phencyclidine

Inhalants

many over-the-counter inhalants

amyl nitrate

Sedatives/barbiturates

most commonly used drugs of the barbiturates family

may be major cause of drug overdose deaths

Tranquilizers

reduce anxiety levels and promote relaxation

use can lead to addiction

Hallucinogens

natural or synthetic

produce vivid distortions of sensory input

mescaline

synthetic alkaloid compounds

Stimulants

produce an intense physical reaction

methedrine most commonly used and most dangerous

crystallized methedrine known as "ice"

Steroids

anabolic steroids build muscle bulk

not physically addictive

health problems associated with long-term use

2. a deviant life-style

Law enforcement response

Anti-Drug Act of 1998

create drug-free America by 1995

focus on law enforcement

Drug testing high school athletes is one of the most controversial.

National Drug Control Strategy, 1998

reducing illegal drug use and availability by 50 percent over next 10 years

Drug Education and Prevention

Prior to 1980s, drug and alcohol education efforts relied on scare tactics.

Resistance education and prevention programs in schools emphasize enhancing the self-esteem of students and teaching children to say "no"

Target age for DARE is 9-12.

there is little evidence to show that drug prevention programs are effective.

Children in Head Start are less likely to eventually be involved with drugs.

Drug Treatment

In residential therapeutic centers like "The Bridge," adolescents drug users learn to take responsibility for their own behaviors.