Background

Although the link between substance use and criminal behavior is well-established, associations between the use of specific substances and specific criminal charges remains unclear. That is, there are mixed findings in the literature, and the majority of extant literature focuses only on associations between alcohol and marijuana use and a limited range of charges.

Objective

The current study examined 30-day frequency of use of various substances (i.e., traditional tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, e-cigarettes, and prescription drugs) prior to detainment, percentages of youth charged with various offenses, and whether certain offenses were associated with more frequent use of particular substances prior to detainment among detained youth. Additionally, differences in substance-charge associations among Black and White youth were evaluated.

Method

Detained youth (N = 235; 71.9% male; M age = 15.59 years) from two facilities self-reported on their substance use and the facilities provided charge data.

Results

Marijuana was the most frequent substance used and violent-related offenses were the most common charge received. Interestingly, several charges (i.e., sex-, weapon-, and violent-related offenses) were associated with less frequent use of tobacco and/or marijuana use, but youth who were detained for non-criminal reasons (i.e., children in need of care) reported more frequent use of various substances than youth detained for criminal charges. Findings were more similar than different for Black and White youth, with very few differences evident.

Conclusions

Children in need of care appear more at risk for certain substances than those detained for criminal offenses, with associations similar for detained Black and White youth.

中文翻译：

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过去 30 天的物质使用与被拘留青年的具体指控之间的联系

背景

尽管物质使用与犯罪行为之间的联系已经确立，但特定物质的使用与特定刑事指控之间的关联仍不清楚。也就是说，文献中有不同的发现，大多数现存文献只关注酒精和大麻使用之间的关联以及有限的收费范围。

客观的

目前的研究调查了拘留前 30 天使用各种物质（即传统烟草、酒精、大麻、电子烟和处方药）的频率、被指控犯有各种罪行的青少年的百分比，以及某些罪行是否与被拘留的青年在拘留前更频繁地使用特定物质。此外，还评估了黑人和白人青年之间物质电荷关联的差异。

方法

来自两个设施的被拘留青年（N = 235；71.9% 男性；M年龄 = 15.59 岁）自我报告其物质使用情况，设施提供收费数据。

结果

大麻是最常使用的物质，与暴力有关的罪行是最常见的指控。有趣的是，几项指控（即与性、武器和暴力相关的犯罪）与较少使用烟草和/或使用大麻有关，但因非犯罪原因被拘留的青年（即需要care) 报告称，与因刑事指控而被拘留的青少年相比，使用各种物质的频率更高。黑人和白人青年的调查结果相似多于不同，几乎没有明显差异。

结论

需要照顾的儿童似乎比因刑事犯罪而被拘留的儿童更容易受到某些物质的侵害，被拘留的黑人和白人青年也有类似的联系。