Substance abuse is one of the most critical public health problems affecting juvenile detainees. Previous research suggests that a significant proportion of juvenile detainees with substance use disorders do not receive treatment prior to or during detention. Using data from the Northwestern Juvenile Project, a large-scale longitudinal study of juvenile detainees, this study examines the extent to which juvenile detainees with substance use disorders receive services, the characteristics of these services, and whether these services are associated with a lower likelihood of having a substance use disorder or engaging in criminal activity three years after detention. Participants were sampled from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (CCJTDC) in Chicago, Illinois from November 1995 through June 1998. The sample of 1829 male and female detainees (age 10-18 years) was randomly selected and stratified by sex, race/ethnicity (African-American, non-Hispanic White, Hispanic), age (10-13 years or 14 years and older), and legal status (processed as a juvenile or as an adult). We examined service use in a subsample of 779 youth who met diagnostic criteria for at least one substance use disorder at baseline. Three years after detention, less than half of the youth who had a substance use disorder at baseline (47.8%) reported any service use. Just over 10% received any school services, 24.1% received any residential/inpatient services, and 31.3% received any outpatient services. Only 22% received treatment focused specifically on alcohol and drug problems. Less than one-third (30.9%) received mental health services focused on emotional or behavioral problems. We found significant racial/ethnic, gender, and age disparities in the receipt of services. Services were not associated with a reduction in substance use disorders or criminal activity over time. This study extends current research by demonstrating that the gap between service need and service use persists after detention. Our findings underscore the need for effective treatment of juvenile detainees with substance use disorders, an important component of juvenile justice system reform.

Last modified

• 10/01/2018

Creator

• Leah Paskar

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N2TT88

Subject

• Clinical Psychology

Keyword

• Psychology

Date created

• 2008-11-24

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright