Crime Rate And Substance Abuse Among Juveniles

Essay, Research Paper

When a juvenile is under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both, he may be more apt to

perform certain activities that he would not necessarily do if he is not under the

influence, such as comit a crime. While under the influence, a juvenile may comit a

crime because of the state of mind that he is in; he cannot make rational decisions if he

is not in a stable mindset. Also, while that juvenile is in an altered state of mind, he may

feel as though he is on top of the world, that he is invincible, and that he can do anything.

Consequently, the aftermath can be severe. Furthermore, while under the influence of

drugs, alcohol, or even both, the risk for the occurence of a crime increases.

In order to see the connection between substance abuse and crime rate among

adolescents, some of the causes of the actual substance abuse must first be discussed.

One cause is the family situation. No family is perfect, nor does every family have good

dynamics. Some families are dysfunctional. Several factors play into what makes a

family dysfunctional: the amount of child supervision, or lack there of, abuse/violence,

the way that the parent(s)/care giver(s) behave, and the overall environment of the home.

Studies have shown the relationship between the family situation and juvenile

delinquincy: “Over the last few years many studies have looked at the issue of family

dynamics as it relates to violent behavior and the increased rates of delinquincy of

children raised in certain types of dysfunctional families”(“Risk Factors” par 22). When

a child lives in a family that is not exactly stable, he does not receive the proper care, and

also, he does not learn the appropriate social skills that follow the norms of society. By

watching those who take care of the child, the child will probably behave as his care

givers behave. In effect, if the care givers are violent toward each other or the child, the

child may grow up to be a violent person. The same learned situation goes toward drug

use, as well: if the care givers are involved with drugs, then the child may begin abusing

drugs. Also, the lack of family supervision may also cause the child to use drugs:

Use of alcohol and other drugs is associated with families who have poor

supervision, rules and discipline, do not disapprove of teens smoking and

drinking, and do not maintain close relationships and trust between parents

and youth(“Teen Substance Abuse” par 1).

In effect, the child’s family situation is a big influence on his behavior and the choices

that he makes, whether those choices are legal or illegal.

Another factor contributing to substance abuse can be linked to the community or

neighborhood that the child lives in. A child who does not live in the best section of his

community may very well see negative activities and may be influenced by those people

who are in that neighborhood. Often times, in poor neighborhoods, a lot of gang

formation and crime occurs. Gangs are linked to drug use. Along with abusing drugs,

gangs also make profits off of drugs:

Street gangs spring up nearly overnight looking for the enormous profits drugs

can bring. Organized crime is also involved in setting up franchises that would

make McDonald’s envous. But these are not hamburgers. In the world of drugs,

homicidally vicious gangs compete for market share with murderous results

(Anderson par 5).

There are many gangs, especially in poor neighborhoods. When the child is exposed to

these drug infested gangs, he may very well become involved with drugs in a gang,

because to him that is a way of life. Also, in poor communities, drugs are more easily

accessible and, in a way, those poor neighborhoods do not view drugs as negatively as

other communities and neighborhoods; drugs are a source of money and, again, drugs

become a way of life. Consequently, when a child is exposed to such situations, he

follows the others in his community by becoming involved in the drug scene.

A third cause for a child to abuse drugs is for psychological reasons. Juveniles

are naturally emotional, some more than others. Juveniles want to fit in, as well as be

content. Sometimes, resorting to drugs is a way for the child to feel better. Also, some

children use drugs to cover up for how they are truly feeling deep down inside. A lot of

juveniles, especially teens, suffer from clinical depression, bipolar disorder(also known

as manic depression), and other psychiatric disorders. By using drugs, those suffering

juveniles are masking their feelings, which can be self-destructing and may even lead to

suicide in extreme cases. According to a press release,

Adolescents whose self-identified serious problems were more emotional

than behavioral in nature were nearly four times as likely to be dependant

on alcohol or illicit drugs than other adolescents. They were four times as

likely to have u

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