BABER MAKAYLA ONLY

Running Head: JUVENILE JUSTICE 1

Juvenile Justice 3

Juvenile Justice

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Juvenile Justice

Suffice to say that there are numerous theories as to why a majority of teenagers in America are considered to be among the highest misusers of drugs in the world. There is one particular theory which suggests that peer influence is actually a key cause of teen drug misusing behavior (Baron, 2003). Findings from recent studies concentrated on friend selection as well as projection but suggested that peer influence is a factor that has been greatly exaggerated. This was because it may not really have been as influential as initially believed. It has however been perceived as being rather odd, since it is such a widely held belief and thus there is far more work that needs to be carried out on peer group drug influences so as to make any specific conclusions.

Compared to the above theory, the adventure theory tends to take the inherent curiosity as well as thrill seeking predisposition of the young into the realm of new substances to experiment with, something which can lead to risky actions (Walters, 2014). Such motives combined with the normal rebelling against authority are what some experts concentrate on. The need to indicate one’s prowess or take bigger risks than any other individuals can often lead teenagers to penetrate the dangerous world of drugs. This is because they believe to be quite omnipotent, powerful and therefore nothing can actually hurt them.

References

Baron, S.W. (2003). Self-Control, Social Consequences, and Criminal Behavior: Street Youth and the General Theory of Crime. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 40(4). Pp. 403.

Walters, G. D. (2014). Drugs, Crime, and Their Relationships: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Sudbury: MA.