| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 882877 | Journal of Criminal Justice | 2011 | 5 Pages |
PurposeThe factors that distinguish adolescent male and female substance abusers with and without legal problems were investigated.MethodYouths (N = 4,071) admitted for substance abuse treatment were administered the revised Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI-R) to measure severity of health, behavior, and social adjustment problems.ResultsLegal problems were more frequent among boys; however, severity of disturbance was greater in girls on 9 of 10 scales. Substance abusing girls and boys with legal problems reported more severe behavior, substance abuse, family adjustment, and peer relationship problems than substance abusing peers without legal problems. Quality of peer relationship mediated the association of family dysfunction, substance abuse and behavior problems with legal problems in boys only.ConclusionsGender and legal status both need to be taken into account to potentiate treatment prognosis of substance abusing youths.
Research Highlights►Adolescent girls who have substance abuse and legal problems have more pervasive disturbances than boys. ►Peer relationships in boys but not girls mediate the association between family disturbance and substance abuse. ►Derived table of standardized scores reveal that overall severity of problems in substance abusing girls with or without legal problems is about 10% more severe than boys.
