Drug use and its effect on Juvenile Delinquency
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have
from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your
body” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Drug use can affect people’s lives in many different ways and can
lead to all manner of deviant behavior. Juveniles can look to drugs as an escape from reality if
they have a hard life. Also they can be influenced to use drugs by friends, family members and
the media. When juveniles use drugs they start to behave in ways that aren’t themselves, the can
be influenced to commit all manner of crimes such as robbery, prostitution, and rape. Also they’ll
begin to neglect things that matter such as school and other responsibilities they have. There are
many ways to keep juveniles from using drugs. Programs can be created to keep the juvenile
busy that will keep them out of the street therefore giving them less time to be influenced to use
drugs. Also keeping them off drugs and from committing crimes is something that can be started
at home there can be classes offered for parents that can help show them ways to keep their kids
out of the streets and off of drugs.
There are many reasons why juveniles do drugs. Some juveniles have hard home lives
and do drugs as an escape from reality. “Studies have found that the majority of drug users have
had an unhappy childhood, which included harsh punishment and parental neglect.” (Siegel &
Welsh 2011). When people come from hard physically abusive or mentally abusive homes they
lose self-worth and they start to feel that they aren’t good enough to be loved. When they live in
or come from homes like this, some of them look to drugs and alcohol as an escape from the
harsh realities of it. Another reason why a juvenile will use drugs is because of the example that
a family member might be setting for them. Chances are if they live in an abusive home that their
parents or the parties in charge are drug addicts, alcoholics or both and the juvenile sees this
behavior and it’s the norm to them so they end up going down the same path and display
delinquent behavior to go along with it. In turn perpetuating a never ending cycle. Peer pressure
is another big factor that goes into juvenile drug use and delinquent behavior “research shows
that adolescent drug abuse is highly correlated with the behavior of best friends especially when
parental supervision is weak.” (Siegel and Welsh 2011). Adolescents are more focused on their
friends and social lives than anything else, that’s why peer pressure is a very strong thing. It
influences juveniles to take more risks than they normally would. When they see their friends or
people that they think is “cool” display a certain behavior and do certain things they look to
emulate that behavior and do those things in order to fit in with those people. The media also
glamourizes drug use by making movies that are pro marijuana use and showing celebrities that
talk about and use drugs. When the juvenile sees this they emulate the behavior in order to be
like the people that they see on television to make themselves look cool to their peers.
In 1 peter 5:8 the bible warns against doing anything that will hinder your mind in
because the devil is waiting to influence you to bad things stating “Be sober-minded; be
watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour.” (1 peter 5:8). When juveniles use drugs you can see the influence and hold that the devil
has on them. They start to display behavior that isn’t in their normal character. They begin
neglecting important things that matter such as school and other responsibilities if they have any
like work. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug dependence (NCADD)
some behaviors that juveniles display when they’re on drugs are skipping class, declining grades
and them getting into more trouble at school. Another behavior that they display is when they
start hanging out more with people that do those types of things as well. When juveniles use
drugs and alcohol they are more likely to be influenced to commit delinquent acts than if they
weren’t under the influence of anything. When they use drugs and alcohol they’re easier
influenced, and when the substance abuse becomes a big part of their lives they can commit
crimes such as robberies, prostitution and rape. They can rob people for their money or their
goods and use that to get more drugs to help their habit. Some will look to prostitution in order to
get money to pacify their habits also. When under the influence of drugs and alcohol people are
more susceptible to do things that they normally wouldn’t do. There are many instances of
highschoolers at parties doing drugs and drinking, and a girl ends up passing out and some of the
guys go in and take advantage of her while she’s in that venerable state. Without the influence of
drugs and alcohol incidents like these would be a lot less common than they are now.
The bible speaks on making better use of your time and against idleness “Look carefully
then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days
are evil.” Ephesians 15:16. There are many ways to keep juveniles from using drugs, and to teach
them to make better use of their time to become the men and women that God has made them to
be. Some ways to keep them from using is to take out some of the chances they have to use drugs
by creating programs that will give them less time to be in the streets and influenced to use.
These programs include but are not limited to after school programs, sports programs and
mentoring programs. All these programs are meant to keep the juvenile off the streets and teach
them skills that they will use forever while pointing them in the right direction to be closer to
what God has made them to be. Some schools don’t have a lot of after school programs like
clubs and other extra circular activities so after school the juvenile is left with nothing to do
which gives them more chances to get in trouble. With more after school programs the juvenile
would be busier instead of being out in the streets with chances to commit delinquent acts. Sports
programs help juveniles stay off the streets by keeping them occupied and focused on a goal to
achieve. Mentor programs help them stay off the streets and to not use drugs by providing
adolescents with a mentor. Mentors are meant to set good examples for juveniles that don’t have
that coming from anywhere else. Like if a juvenile’s father has left them, they can get a mentor
to help steer them in the right direction and teach them things and motivate them to be positive
instead of being out there in the streets. Mentors give them an example to follow. Another way
to keep juveniles from being on the streets and using drugs is for the parents to be the positive
example that their kids follow. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he
will not depart from It.” proverbs 22:6. Parents are examples for their kids whether they know it
or not. They can be either positive or negative if the parent is a delinquent then the child will
more than likely be one as well, so parents should strive to be positive examples for their kids.
Also the schools and community centers can offer classes to the parents showing them ways that
they can keep their kids off of drugs and show them signs to look for in case they suspect their
kids are using. Also they can offer classes to the juveniles such as the D.A.R.E program that the
local police forces offer that show them ways that they can resist the influences to use drugs and
show them the consequences of their actions if they do go down that route.
Drug use affects juvenile delinquency, and the two are correlated and affect each other in
many different ways. Juveniles can be influenced to use drugs as an escape from their realities,
peer pressure and influences from family members. Also they can be influenced by the Medias
portrayal because they glamourize the use of drugs and crime. Drugs use can lead to juvenile
delinquency because when the juveniles use drugs they behave in ways that aren’t themselves
which puts them in positions where the opportunity to commit crime presents itself therefore
making them more susceptible to committing crimes that include but are not limited to robbery,
prostitution or rape. There are many ways to keep them from using drugs and keep the
perpetuating cycle of drug use and crime from happening. Programs can be created to keep them
off the streets such as after school programs, sports programs and mentoring programs. Also
there can be classes offered to the parents that show them ways they can help to keep their kids
away from drugs and crimes.
Reference list
1. Ruiz, B., Stevens, S., Fuhriman, J., Bogart, J., & Korchmaros, J. (n.d.). A
Juvenile Drug Court Model in Southern Arizona: Substance Abuse,
Delinquency, and Sexual Risk Outcomes by Gender and
Race/Ethnicity. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 416-438
2. Siegel, L. & Welsh, B.(2011). Juvenile Delinquency: The Core. Cengage
Learning. Mason, Ohio
3. Top 10 Ways to keep your Child off Drugs - Treatment Solutions. (2009,
April 28). Retrieved February 9, 2015, from
http://www.treatmentsolutions.com/top-10-ways-to-keep-your-child-off-drugs
4. Langsam, Adam H Juvenile substance abuse and criminal career continuity.
University of North Texas, ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing, 2000.
3019195.
5. Facciolo, David J. Issue 1 winter 1987 Unfinished Business: Confronting
Juvenile Substance Abuse Special Report
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