Health and Developmental Consequences of Youth Drug Abuse

Research Findings from February, 2002 Director's Report

This section lists selected summaries from NIDA funded research projects that investigate the developmental implications of drug use. The summaries provided were selected from recent issues of the Director's Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse. For a more comprehensive listing of NIDA funded projects see the Director's Report.

The Effect of Drug Treatment on Criminal Behavior among Adolescents in DATOS-A

This study examined the effects on criminal behavior among 1,167 adolescents who participated in a community-based substance abuse treatment study (Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies for Adolescents) (DATOS-A). The primary goals of this study were to assess the effect of substance abuse treatment on adolescent crime and to identify the patient characteristics that were most closely associated with reductions in crime during the posttreatment period. Results confirmed that among adolescents who had engaged in criminal activity during the 12 months prior to entering DATOS-A treatment, reductions in alcohol or marijuana use were independently associated with significant reductions in the likelihood of committing crimes during the 12-month follow-up period. The present study also provides further support for emphasizing dynamic rather than static patient characteristics to predict the likelihood of continued drug-related offending among substance-abusing adolescents. Farabee, D., Shen, H.K., Hser, Y.I., Grella, C.E., and Anglin, M.D. Journal of Adolescent Research, 16(6), pp. 679-696, 2001.

Patient Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes for African American, Hispanic, and White Adolescents in DATOS-A

This study attempts to extend what is known about adolescent substance abusers in adolescent-oriented substance abuse treatment by describing and comparing background and pretreatment characteristics and posttreatment outcomes of African American (n = 213), Hispanic (n = 108), and White adolescent (n = 773) substance abusers who participated in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies for Adolescents (DATOS-A). The pretreatment data indicated that patients in each group were similar only with respect to basic demographics (gender, age and primary drug use) but differed in terms of referral source, involvement with the criminal justice system and prevalence of mental disorders. Posttreatment comparisons revealed significant racial/ethnic differences in serious posttreatment criminal behavior, only. Logistic regression results indicated that African American adolescents had a lower likelihood of engaging in serious illegal activity as compared to White adolescents during the posttreatment period. The results of this study provide at mechanism for more comprehensive understanding of adolescent substance abusers, their treatment needs, and their treatment outcomes. Rounds-Bryant, J.L., and Staab, J. Journal of Adolescent Research, 16(6), pp. 624-641, 2001.