Is There a Strong Link Between Juvenile Crime and Drug Usage?

Is There A Strong Link Between Juvenile Crime And Drug Usage?
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This research paper will look at statistical and psychosocial relationship between juvenile crime and drug use. Substance use and criminal behavior are clearly interrelated. The greater involvement in substance abuse relates to a more severe tendency for violence and criminality. This will include discussing the relationship and touch on some possible interventions.
The paper examines whether there is a link between drug usage and juvenile crime. Crimes committed under the influence of drugs mostly because of acute or chronic use. There can also be the crime is committed to obtaining money (or the drugs) to finance drug addiction. Then there is also the risk of crimes committed within the systems and networks for the distribution of drugs and tends to involve violent crime as there are disputes over territories and between rival drug dealers. Participation in juvenile crime increases the risk that the youth will be repeat offenders even in adulthood (Barrett & Katsiyannis, 2016). As such, preventing and dealing with juvenile crime, including possible causes such as drug usage is necessary to improve outcomes. A look into the relationship between juvenile crime and drug usage focuses on the whether there is high risk of delinquent and criminal behavior among drug users.
Peer groups influence drugs and alcohol use, and drug use affects delinquency and participation in crimes. Marotta (2017) reported that adolescents who grew up with peers who were drug users were linked to the daily use of marijuana. Even among inmates, those who grew up with peers injecting drugs had a higher rate of drug use and abuse. Additionally, there was a link between participating in different delinquency types with deviant peers and increased use of illegal drugs (Marotta, 2017). The p-values < .001 were statistically significant in the research, indicating the strong link between drug use and juvenile crime. More research on delinquent peer association and crime and what factors increase the risk of youth being delinquent and more likely to commit violent crime.
  There are differences in crime rates among the youth who use drugs and based o where they live, but when delinquency begins early, there is a higher risk of being in the juvenile justice system. Having unfulfilled psychological needs is one possible explanation for drug use and criminal behavior among the youth. The youth use drugs for different reasons, including being in the social and physical environment where drugs are freely available, peer pressure, and even coping. Social acceptance or tolerance of drugs and alcohol increase the risk of drug use and abuse and criminal behavior.
 Jang (2018) investigated the relationship between it is religiosity, crime, and drug use, highlighting that religiosity was associated with a lower risk of crime and drug use in a unidirectional manner. The lack of strong family and social support places youth in a vulnerable position to addictions and crime linked to drug use, abuse, and dealing. However, both personal and environmental factors impact behavior. Concerns about drug use and abuse among the youth are well-founded as there is a nee...