Early Substance Use by Juvenile Offenders

Although the interconnection between delinquency and substance use in adolescence is well documented, considerably less is known about substance-use initiation in childhood for juvenile delinquent populations. This descriptive study examined early substance initiation in childhood as reported by adolescents who were incarcerated for juvenile offenses (93 males, 96 females; 58% African American, 42% European American). Youth were individually interviewed using an adapted version of substance-related questions from the National Household Survey. Juvenile justice system records were reviewed to characterize offense histories. A majority of males and females reported using at least one substance (other than cigarettes) such as alcohol, marijuana, or inhalants by age 13. Alcohol use reportedly occurred by age 10 for 17% of the youth. For a substantial portion, early initiation turned into frequent early use. For example, 32% of the males and 39% of the females reported drinking alcoholic beverages at a frequency of several times per month or greater by age 13. Limited evidence related early substance initiation with subsequent substance abuse. Offense status was related to early substance initiation for females but not males. The study provided clear evidence that very early substance use is a significant problem among youth who end up in the juvenile justice system and that we need to find out more about the environmental and social variables affecting very early substance initiation.