Juvenile delinquents are more than likely to have experimented with alcohol and substances during their lifetime or to be under the influence of alcohol or some type of substance when committing a crime. According to a new report released by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, four of every five children and teen arrestees in state juvenile justice systems are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while committing their crimes, test positive for drugs, are arrested for committing an alcohol or drug offense, admit having substance abuse and addiction problems, or share some combination of these characteristics. Drugs and alcohol abuse is a major factor which influences teenagers in committing crimes. In the most comprehensive study Criminal Neglect: Substance Abuse, Juvenile Justice and The Children Left Behind, which deals with juveniles within the juvenile systems in correlation with substance abuse reports that 1.9 million of 2.4 million juvenile arrests had substance abuse and addiction involvement and that only 68,600 juveniles receive substance abuse treatment. These statistics are astonishing, and should make all citizens wonder why teenagers are abusing so many substances at such a young age. Sadly enough, the juvenile justice system’s rehabilitation and treatment for these teenagers are not effective enough. Instead of tending to their needs by properly rehabilitating these teenagers by providing them with counseling or cognitive therapy in order to overcome substance abuse, the juvenile system simply punishes them by locking them up for a certain amount of time, which is not rehabilitating their substance issue.
When being arrested for a committed crime, juveniles are tested and found positive for many types of substances such as alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, non-prescribed prescription drugs, and even heroin. At least 92% of arrested juveniles have been tested positive for marijuana, which is the most abused illegal substance among all teenagers, besides the use of alcohol. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), there are 7.2% of juveniles who used cocaine, 2.3% of juveniles who used heroin, 4.4% who used meth, and 5.8% who used ecstasy. However, substances such as heroin and meth were not in juveniles systems upon arrests, but substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol was in their systems upon arrest. Although these juveniles were not under the influence of some of these substances, one can suggest that these drugs have had a negative impact on their cognitive thinking or their behavioral skills, and have caused a mental illnesses to some of these teenagers. According to CASA, up to of incarcerated 10 to 17 years-old have a diagnosable mental health disorder, which can be from the heavily abuse of substances at such an earlier age. As a community we must find ways in order to eliminate this issue of substance abuse among juveniles, and also find a cure which can be an effective rehabilitation in order to the further use of abusing substances by juveniles.
Burns, Keri. "Juvenile Issues." Juvenile Substance Abuse Issues. 10 April 2010. Feb 2006. www.karisable.com.
Thomas, Buddy. "Most Juvenile Offenders Use Drugs, Alcohol." About.com. 10 April 2010. Jul 2010. www.alcoholism.about.com/od/teens/a/blcasa041007.htm
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