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Most Juvenile Crime Offenders Use Drugs, Study Says
October 7, 2004

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Research Summary

A National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) study finds that four in five young people arrested for juvenile crimes had problems with alcohol and other drugs, the Associated Press reported Oct. 6.

Furthermore, the study of the juvenile justice system found that addiction treatment for the 1.9 million arrested juvenile offenders is scarce; only 68,600 received any form of addiction treatment.

Also inadequate, according to the study, were mental-health services and education programs that meet state standards.

The five-year CASA study looked at juveniles aged 10 to 17 who were arrested for criminal activity. Of those arrested, 92 percent tested positive for marijuana and 14.4 percent tested positive for cocaine.

"Instead of helping, we are writing off these young Americans," said Joseph Califano Jr., chairman of CASA. "We are releasing them without attending to their needs for substance-abuse treatment and other services, punishing them without providing help to get back on track."

The researchers recommended a stronger focus on assessing juveniles' needs and offering treatment and other services.

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