CHAPTER 10 DRUG USE AND DELINQUENCY 2017 Cengage

CHAPTER 10: DRUG USE AND DELINQUENCY © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

MARIJUANA AND HASHISH § Marijuana § Produced from the leaves of cannabis sativa § Hashish § Concentrated form of cannabis made of unadulterated resin from the female plant § Main ingredient in both is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) § A mild hallucinogen § Most commonly used drug by teenagers § Large amounts causes distortions that produce hallucinatory effects § Not physically addictive, but long term effects debatable © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

COCAINE, CRACK & HEROIN § Cocaine § Alkaloid derivative of the coca plant § Most powerful natural stimulant that produces euphoria, restlessness, and excitement § Sniffed, snorted, or injected § Immediate feeling or rush is short lived § Crack § § § Processed street cocaine Gained popularity in the mid-1980 s Relatively inexpensive Can provide a powerful high and is highly addictive © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

COCAINE, CRACK & HEROIN § Heroin § Most dangerous commonly abused drug © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

ALCOHOL § Drug of choice for most teenagers § 60% of high school seniors reported abusing it in the past year § 66% say they have tried it § By the 12 th grade, 50% reported having been drunk § Negatively impacts society § Factor in nearly half of all murders, suicides, and accidental deaths § 1. 2 million drivers are arrested each year for D. U. I. § 800, 000 more arrested for alcohol-related offenses § The economic cost is staggering: $185 billion lost each year © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

ALCOHOL § Impact on health § Long term use is linked to depression and physical ailments, ranging from heart disease to cirrhosis of the liver § Perceived benefits § Reduces tension, enhances pleasure, improves social skills, and some claim it transforms experiences for the better © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

OTHER DRUG CATEGORIES § Anesthetic Drugs § Central nervous system depressants § Most widely abused is phencyclidine (PCP), aka angel dust § Inhalants § Some youths inhale vapors that cause a euphoric feeling that is followed by disorientation, slurred speech, and drowsiness © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

OTHER DRUG CATEGORIES § Sedatives and barbiturates § Depress the central nervous system, creating a sleeplike condition § Tranquillizers § Reduce anxiety and promote relaxation § Overuse can lead to addiction, and withdrawal can be painful and hazardous © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

OTHER DRUG CATEGORIES § Hallucinogens § Provide vivid distortions of the senses without greatly disturbing the viewers consciousness § e. g. , mescaline, LSD § Stimulants § Synthetic drugs that increase blood pressure, breathing rate, bodily activity, and elevate mood § Methedrine is the most widely used dangerous amphetamine § e. g. , “meth”, “speed”, “crystal meth” § Economic cost of meth use in the U. S. exceeds $23 billion a year © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

OTHER DRUG CATEGORIES § Steroids § Anabolic steroids are used to gain muscle bulk and strength § Black market sales approach $1 billion annually § Cause health problems such as liver ailments, tumors, kidney problems, sexual dysfunctions, hypertension and depression § Designer drugs § Some designer drugs are synthetically created in labs for the purpose of temporarily circumventing existing drug laws (e. g. , bathsalts) § Ecstasy: acts simultaneously as a stimulant and hallucinogen © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

ANNUAL PREVALENCE OF ILLICIT DRUG USE © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

DRUG USE TODAY § Monitoring the future survey: § Annual survey carried out by the Institute for Social Research at the U. of Michigan § Drug use among American adolescents declined since its peak in 1996 and 1997 § Significant drop in alcohol use by the youngest kids § Decline in cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

DRUG USE TODAY § Pride (Parents Research Institute from Drug Education) Survey: § Found that 2009 -2010 school year experienced small to moderate reductions in drug activities § Substantial decreases over the last 10 years § National Survey on Drug Use and Health: § Drug and alcohol use has stabilized or declined § “Heavy drinking” reported by 7% of youth 12 and over (17 million people) § 2% of youth aged 12 to 17 were heavy drinkers and 8% engaged in binge drinking § Marijuana use is currently more common among male youths than female youths © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

ANNUAL DRUG USE GRADES 6 THROUGH 12 © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

ARE THE SURVEY RESULTS ACCURATE? § Data must be interpreted with caution § Heavy users not expected to fully cooperate § Drug-abusing students are more likely to be absent from school during testing periods § Drug abusers are more likely to be forgetful § Most drug-dependent portion of the adolescent population is omitted from the sample § Accuracy of reporting may be affected by social and personal traits: § Girls and kids from single-parent homes are less likely to admit taking drugs © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WHY DO YOUTHS TAKE DRUGS? § Social disorganization § Ties drug abuse to poverty, social disorganization, and hopelessness § Drug use by minorities tied to racial prejudice, low self-esteem, poor socioeconomic status, and stress of living in a harsh, urban environment § Poverty linked to high level of mistrust and defiance § Empirical data on the relationship between class and crime is inconclusive § National Youth Survey found little, if any, association between drug use and social class © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WHY DO YOUTHS TAKE DRUGS? § Peer pressure § Adolescent drug abuse is highly correlated to the behavior of best friends, especially when parental supervision is weak § Youth’s association with friends who are substance abusers increases the probability of drug use § Relationship is reciprocal § Peer networks may be the most significant influence on long term substance abuse © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WHY DO YOUTHS TAKE DRUGS? § Family factors § Drug users often have a poor family life § Majority have an unhappy childhood characterized by harsh punishment and parental neglect § May involve racial and gender differences: § Females and European Americans who suffered abuse as children were more likely to have alcohol and drug arrests as adults § Abuse less likely to affect drug use in males and African Americans § May also result from observation of parental drug use © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WHY DO YOUTHS TAKE DRUGS? § Genetic factors § Biological children of alcoholics reared by nonalcoholic adoptive parents are found to be more likely to develop alcohol problems than natural children of adoptive parents § Identical twins twice as likely as fraternal twins to have similar drug-usage § Future substance abuse can be predicted by behavior as early as 6 years of age © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WHY DO YOUTHS TAKE DRUGS? § Emotional problems § Drugs help youth control or express unconscious needs § Drug abusers often have an addiction-prone personality, which indicates that the cause of substance abuse may be traced to a compulsive need for mood-altering drugs § Research of narcotic abusers suggest a significant percentage suffer from psychotic disorders § Half of all drug abusers may also be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorders © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WHY DO YOUTHS TAKE DRUGS? § Problem behavior syndrome § Substance abuse just one of many problems that begin early in life and persist throughout § Youths who abuse drugs are often maladjusted, emotionally distressed, and suffer from other social problems § Youths who abuse drugs are believed to lack commitment § Dedicate most of their time to peer activities (rather than family/school/work/community) § Do poorly in school § Experience high drop out rates © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WHY DO YOUTHS TAKE DRUGS? § Rational choice § Youths may choose to use drugs to: § Get high § Relax § Improve their creativity § Escape reality § Increase their sexual responsiveness § Rational choice theory views experimental drug use with less concern than other theories § Purports to maintain a realistic perspective on teenage drug use, as opposed to an overly reactionary, negative stance © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

PATHWAYS TO DRUG ABUSE § Gateway drugs: § Substances that lead to use of more serious drugs § Drinking with an adult present is a significant precursor of later substance abuse and delinquency § Serious drug users typically start with alcohol § Drug dealing and drug use: § Adolescents who distribute small amounts of drugs usually do not commit any serious delinquent acts § Frequent dealers often have adults who front for them – sell them drugs for cash § Frequent dealers are more likely to sell drugs in parks, schools, or other public places § Most small-time dealers hold conventional jobs © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

DRUG DEALING AND DELINQUENCY § Most serious drug-involved youths distribute multiple substances and commit property and violent crimes § Represent only 2% of the teenage population but commit 40% of robberies/assaults and 60% of all felony thefts/drug sales § Few gender or racial differences exist § Turbulent environment of drug dealing is more lucrative when ran by flexible organizations, rather than rigidly-ruled gangs © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

PERSISTENT OFFENDERS § About 2/3 of substance abusing youths continue to use drugs into adulthood § Persistent offenders: § § Often come from poor families Family members often include other criminals Typically do poorly in school Started using drugs and committing other delinquent acts at an early age § Use multiple types of drugs and commit crimes frequently § Have few opportunities in late adolescence to participate in legitimate and rewarding adult activities © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

DRUG USE AND DELINQUENCY § Association between drug use and delinquency has been definitively established and can take a number of forms: § Crime may be an instrument of the drug trade § Users may also commit crimes to pay for their habits § Users may be more willing to take risks, as inhibitions are lowered by substance abuse © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

DRUG USE AND DELINQUENCY § The National Institute of Justices Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) tracked trends in drug use among arrestees in urban areas § Most recent report (2002) found that almost 60% of juvenile males and 30% of juvenile females tested positive for marijuana § With the exception of methamphetamines, males more likely than females to test positive for the use of all other drug § Higher levels of youth problem behaviors and delinquency are associated with drug use and distribution © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

EXPLAINING DRUG USE AND DELINQUENCY § It is far from certain whether: § (a) drug use causes delinquency § (b) delinquency leads youths to engage in substance abuse § (c) both drug abuse and delinquency are functions of some other factor © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

EXPLAINING DRUG USE AND DELINQUENCY § Institute Of Behavioral Science found important associations between substance abuse and delinquency: § Alcohol abuse leads to marijuana and other drug abuse § Most users started with alcohol, and youths who abstain from alcohol almost never take other drugs § Marijuana leads to more dangerous drug use § 95% of youths who use serious drugs reported to have started on pot § Youths who commit felonies started off with minor delinquent acts © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

DRUG CONTROL STRATEGIES § Billions of dollars are spent annually to reduce the importation of drugs, deter drug dealers and treat users § A number of strategies deter drug use by stopping the flow of drugs into the country, apprehending dealers, and cracking down on street-level drug dealers § Another approach is educating potential users and convincing them to “say no” to drugs § A third approach is to treat users so they can cease buying and using drugs © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS § Source control § Designed to punish known dealers and users and to deter those who are thinking of entering the drug trade § Border control § Designed to intercept drug supplies as they enter the country § Targets Internet drug traffickers from foreign countries § Targeting dealers § Efforts focus on drug trafficking and busting large scale drug rings § Police street-level busts of dealers/users can be too much of a hassle § Drug sweeps have overcrowded correctional facilities and drained police resources © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

EDUCATION STRATEGIES § Educational programs aimed at reducing teenage substance abuse § Begins in kindergarten and extends through the 12 th grade § According to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, most 7 th-12 th graders “agree a lot” that antidrug ads made them less likely to try or use drugs © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

COMMUNITY STRATEGIES § Programs reach out to youths at the highest risk § One of the most successful community-based programs to prevent substance abuse and delinquency is provided by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America: § SMART targets the pressures to try drugs/alcohol § Provides education to parents in the community to assist youth in learning about the dangers of substance abuse and strategies for resisting the pressures to use drugs and alcohol © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

TREATMENT STRATEGIES § More than 130, 000 youths ages 12 to 17 are admitted to treatment facilities in the U. S. § 52% are referred through the juvenile justice system § Several approaches are available to treat users § Multi-systemic therapy (MST) § Problem solving and communication skills § Outdoor activities, wilderness training, and after school community programs § UCLA’s Comprehensive Residential Education, Arts, and Substance Abuse Treatment Program © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

TREATMENT Ø Multisystemic therapy (MST) ü Treatment chosen according to the needs of each youth, and may include individual, family, peer, school, and community interventions, including parent training and skills training Ø What factors account for MST’s success in reducing delinquency, substance abuse, and other problematic behaviors? Ø What are some challenges of using this approach? © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

HARM REDUCTION § Makes drug treatment facilities readily available, without fear of punishment, for anyone who wishes to overcome their habit and live a drug-free life § Health professionals administer drugs to addicts is part of a treatment and detoxification program § Needle exchange programs § Special drug courts or pretrial diversion programs § Critics warn that this approach condones/promotes drug use § Encourages people to either continue/start using drugs without recognizing the dangers § Advocates see it as a variable interim measure in dealing with drug use © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? § U. S. appears willing to go to great lengths to keep fighting the drug war § Prevention, deterrence, and treatment strategies ignore the core reasons for the majority of drug problems: § Poverty, alienation, and family disruption § Legalization of drugs would decriminalize drug use to reduce the association between drug use and crime § In the short-term this approach could have grave consequences © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

SUMMARY § Alcohol is the drug most frequently abused by American teens § Other popular drugs include marijuana and prescription drugs § Some experts believe there is a common cause for both delinquency and drug abuse—perhaps alienation and rage. § It is difficult to eradicate drug abuse because there is much profit to be made from the sale of drugs § One controversial suggestion: legalize drugs © 2017 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.