Essay About Drug Use And Research Shows

Drug Use and Delinquency
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Drug Use Delinquency
Drug use is not the only contributing factor to “Delinquency;” by youths. Juveniles
are challenged with peer pressure, broken families, abuse, unstable home environments,
and family economics.
Research has consistently identified a strong positive association between drug use
and delinquency; “indicates the presence of one increases the likelihood of engaging in the
other”(e.g., Dembo, Sehmeidier, Pacheco, Cooper, & Williams, 1997; Ellickson &
McGuire, 2000; Snyder & Sickmund, 1999; Tubman, Gil, & Wagner, 2004).
The research shows the relationship between cocaine use and delinquent behavior
pertaining to youths. Overtime drug use is contributing to delinquent behavior and when
the increase in drug use continues, so does delinquent behaviors; it is a parallel process.
The research has also contributed the use of drugs amongst juveniles with the involvement
of illegal sales of the substance. The psychosocial functioning of the families was also
related to the association of the delinquents in determining the kind of home environment
they grew up in.
It is noted that delinquents activity by youths have many contributing factors, i.e.
economics, education, drugs, and the primary association is with gang activity. The
research shows that gang activity is not just the inner city of a metropolitan area, but
included more so now then before in the rural areas of the states. The research shows what
once were the male groups of gangs has now turned into some female groups; acting
delinquents.
The research also shows adolescents are staying in gangs longer, not just your
typical 14 to 19 years of age, but someone in there 20s and up to 30. There has been an
increase in delinquent behaviors associated with drugs, physical confrontations, display of
graffiti, wearing