Family and Peer Influences on Substance Attitudes and Use among Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth

Juvenile justice-involved youth experience high rates of substance use, which is concerning given associated negative consequences, including health and functional deficits. Family and peer factors are associated with a high risk of substance use among justice-involved youth. It is hypothesized that this risk process operates through pro-drug attitudes. However, limited research has been conducted on the mechanisms through which family and peer factors increase risk for substance use among juvenile justice involved youth. The current study examined both the direct and indirect effects of family and peer substance use on youth's substance use (alcohol and illicit drug use). We also examined whether this relationship differs by race. 226 detained youth (81.9% male; 74.3% Black) were recruited from an urban county in the Midwest and completed a clinical interview and substance use assessment battery. A direct effect of family/peer risk on illicit drug use was found for all youth, though the effect was stronger among White youth. Results also supported the indirect effect pathway from family/peer risk to both illicit drug use and alcohol use through pro-drug attitudes. This pathway did not vary by race. These findings suggest that interventions should focus on targeting both family/peer risk and pro-drug attitudes to reduce substance use. Given the racial difference in the direct effect of family/peer risk on illicit drug use, there may be other factors that influence risk more strongly for White youth, which warrants further investigation

Poly-use of cannabis and other substances among juvenile-justice involved youth: variations in psychological and substance-related problems by typology

Background: Adolescent cannabis use is associated with increased risk for psychological problems, with evidence for more severe problems among youth who use cannabis in combination with other substances (i.e., polysubstance use). Juvenile offenders engage in both cannabis use and polysubstance use at higher rates than the general adolescent population. Yet, limited research has examined the relationship between cannabis poly-use (e.g., cannabis and alcohol use) and functional or psychological problems among juvenile offenders. Objectives: The current study addresses this gap by examining the association of polysubstance use of cannabis compared to cannabis only use with cognitive functioning, psychological distress, and substance-related problems among juvenile detainees. Methods: Participants were 238 detained youth ages 12–18 (80.4% male, 77.3% non-White) who completed assessments of substance use, intellectual functioning, psychological symptoms, and substance-related problems. Youth were also assessed by a clinical psychologist for substance use disorder. Results: Four cannabis-use typologies were identified; cannabis and alcohol use was the largest class, followed by cannabis only use, cannabis, alcohol and other drug use, then cannabis and other drug use. Polysubstance use was associated with lower scores on measures of intellectual functioning, more externalizing and internalizing symptomology, and more substance-related problems relative to cannabis only use. However, the relationship between polysubstance use and problems varied by typology. Conclusions: Findings suggest that justice-involved youth engaged in polysubstance use may be at greater need for concurrent academic, affective, and behavioral support in their rehabilitation and transition back to the community

Patterns of adolescent gun carrying and gun-related crime arrests in Indianapolis, Indiana over an 11-year time period

Adolescent males are disproportionately affected by homicide as both victims and offenders. Indianapolis has seen increases in youth homicides over the past few years; gun carrying increases an individual's risk for involvement in firearm violence. It is unclear how often youth are arrested for gun carrying and gun-related crimes. Examining these patterns may identify an opportunity for intervention. This study is a descriptive epidemiology analysis that examines patterns of gun carrying and gun-related crime arrests among justice involved youth in Marion County (Indianapolis), Indiana. We accessed juvenile court records from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2016 on all individuals arrested for a gun carrying offense (i.e., illegal possession of a firearm or gun; n = 711) and all individuals arrested for a gun-related crime (i.e., homicide, robbery, aggravated assault; n = 150). Data were analyzed in fall 2019. Proportions of juvenile arrests for both gun carrying (47.0 per 1000 arrests) and gun-related crime (25.4 per 1000 arrests) have substantially increased compared to ten-years ago (4.5 per 1000 arrests and 2.0 per 1000 arrests, respectively). Of those arrested, 27.7 per 100,000 population were arrested for a repeated gun-related offense; of which 21.5 per 100,000 were first arrested for gun carrying and 6.2 per 100,000 were arrested for a gun-related crime. The majority of gun-related repeat offenders were first arrested for gun carrying; therefore, these gun-carrying arrests may be an opportunity to intervene on an individual level by providing treatment, other needed resources, and discussing safe firearm storage with families and communities

Patterns of drug screen results and court-ordered substance use treatment referrals and completion among justice-involved youth

Background Substance use is prevalent among justice-involved youth and given the risk of recidivism and other poor outcomes associated with substance use, justice systems have implemented efforts to improve substance use screening and connection to treatment. Although many justice systems use drug screening to monitor substance use, research on patterns of substance use based on drug screen records is lacking. The current study examined court records of drug screens among youth to explore patterns of substance use as well as rates of court-ordered referral to substance use treatment and treatment completion. We also examined differences in these patterns of use and treatment referral and completion by race, ethnicity, and gender. Method We examined court records for N = 3440 youth with records of positive oral drug screen (ODS) between 2011 and 2016 to assess patterns of ODS results (e.g., number and of positive screens), court-ordered referrals to substance use treatment, and rates of treatment completion. Results Of 3440 youth with a positive ODS, 96% tested positive for cannabis and 9.8% for opioids at least once; 48.5% were court-ordered to substance use treatment. Of those referred, 67% had history of completing at least one treatment episode; black youth ( OR = 0.54, p < .01) were less likely to have history of completing substance use treatment. Conclusion Our results underscore the need to utilize objective measures as well as validated self-reports of substance use history in both research and justice system decision-making to aid in identifying youth in need of services. Additional research should identify barriers to substance use treatment completion among this population

Cultural socialization and alcohol use: The mediating role of alcohol expectancies among racial/ethnic minority youth

Introduction: Cultural socialization is associated with reduced risk for several health outcomes among racial/ethnic minority youth. However, to date, less is known about its effect on substance use or the mechanisms through which this process may operate. The current study aimed to examine the effect of cultural socialization on alcohol use through alcohol expectancies among racial/ethnic minority youth. Methods: 113 minority adolescents (69.9% African American; 13.3% Hispanic; 10.6% Multiracial; 2.7% American Indian/Alaskan Native) between ages 12 and 18 (mean age 15) were recruited from community-based after school centers. Participants completed measures on cultural socialization, four alcohol expectancy domains (i.e., positive social, wild and crazy, negative arousal, and sedation), and past year alcohol use. Results: A significant indirect pathway between cultural socialization, alcohol expectancies and alcohol use was found for negative arousal expectancies (b = −0.160, Boot CI [95] = −0.413, −0.021). Indirect paths were non-significant for the other three alcohol expectancies. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cultural socialization can help reduce alcohol use among racial/ethnic minority adolescents, in part though influencing negative arousal expectancies. Given evidence that alcohol expectancies play an important and long-lasting role in alcohol use across development, incorporating cultural socialization into intervention programming for racial/ethnic minority youth may prove beneficial to reduce risk for alcohol use. Keywords: Cultural socialization, Alcohol expectancies, Alcohol use, Racial/ethnic minoritie

Discrimination and Substance Use: Examining the Moderating Role of Impulsivity Among Racial-Ethnic Minority Adolescents

Background: Research on substance use among racial-ethnic minority populations notes that discrimination experiences predict substance use outcomes. Individual-level factors, such as impulsivity, are also known risk factors for substance use. However, little is known about the direct and interaction effects between discrimination experiences and impulsivity among racial-ethnic minority youth. The current study examines the effects of perceived experiences of discrimination on alcohol and marijuana use among racial-ethnic minority youth, and whether individual differences in impulsivity traits help to further understand potential risk for substance use. Methods: Participants were 112 racial-ethnic minority adolescents (Mage = 15.27; African American, Hispanic, Multiracial, Native American/Alaskan Native, or Other). Adolescents completed self-report measures of perceived experiences of discrimination, alcohol and marijuana use (past year occurrence and problematic use), and five impulsivity traits (i.e., sensation seeking, lack of planning, lack of perseverance, negative urgency, and positive urgency). Results: A significant main effect of perceived discrimination on problem marijuana use was found, as well as a significant main effect of lack of premeditation on current marijuana use. Several marginally significant main effects emerged for alcohol use and problem alcohol use (i.e., positive urgency and sensation seeking, respectively). Conclusion: While no significant moderation effects emerged, marginal findings suggest a potential interactive effect of discrimination and impulsivity traits on problem alcohol and marijuana use among racial-ethnic minority youth. Further research is needed in this area to replicate findings, which is critical to informing effective intervention and prevention efforts for this population of youth

Who gets screened and who tests positive? Drug screening among justice-involved youth in a midwestern urban county

Background: Given high rates of substance use among justice-involved youth, justice systems have attempted to monitor use through drug screening (DS) procedures. However, there is discretion in deciding who is screened for substance use, as not every youth who encounters the system is screened. The aim of the current study was to examine factors associated with selection for and results of oral DS among justice-involved youth assigned to probation to better inform potential DS policy. Electronic court records from 4,668 youth with first-incident records assigned to probation in a midwestern urban county's juvenile justice system between 2011 and 2016 were included in the analytical sample. Race/ethnicity, gender, age, number of charges and charge type for the current incident were included as independent variables. Results: Multivariable hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated that males were more likely to be assigned to DS (aOR = 0.40, 95%CI [0.34, 0.46]), and more likely to test positive for use (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.34, 0.54]) than females. As age increased, youth were less likely to be assigned to DS (aOR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.87, 0.94]), with non-significant differences in DS results. Greater number of charges were associated with a higher likelihood of being assigned to DS (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.43, 1.68]). Youth with violent offenses were more likely to be assigned to DS than those with other offense types (property offenses, drug offenses, statutory offenses, disorderly conduct, and all other offenses), but less likely to test positive for use. Conclusions: Many factors were associated with differences in DS, but these factors were not always associated with differential DS results. Demographic or charge-based decisions may not be appropriate for DS assignment

Examining the Effects of Implicit and Explicit Racial Identity on Psychological Distress and Substance Use Among Black Young Adults

Racial identity is an aspect of self-concept that is important to the mental and behavioral health of Black individuals. Yet, much of the current research on racial identity is based on self-report measures which may impact findings due to reporting biases. One way to alleviate some of the measurement concerns is to use implicit measures to assess racial identity. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether an implicit assessment of racial identity, specifically racial centrality, provided a unique contribution to the understanding of risk for psychological distress and substance use among Black young adults above potential effects observed from an explicit measurement of racial identity. Additionally, the potential moderating effect of implicit racial identity, controlling for explicit racial identity, on the association between racial discrimination and these health outcomes was also examined. One hundred and forty-seven Black young adults participated in this study. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was no significant main effect of implicit racial centrality on depressive symptoms or substance use after accounting for explicit racial centrality. However, after controlling for explicit racial centrality, a significant moderating effect of implicit racial centrality on the relationship between racial discrimination and substance use was observed. Although support for all of our hypotheses was not definitively found, our findings can be added to this emerging area of study. Additionally, potential explanations for the findings are provided that can be used to inform future research in this area to better understand the utility of assessing for implicit racial identity among Black young adults

Exploring the promotive pathway between ethnic-racial identity, depression and anxiety symptoms, and substance use among African American emerging adults

Objective: Ethnic-racial identity (ERI) has been shown to have a promotive effect on substance use; however, the factors impacting this relationship have been explored less. The present study examined whether a promotive pathway exists between ERI, depression and anxiety symptoms, and problem substance use (i.e., alcohol and cannabis use) among a sample of African American emerging adults. Method: Participants were 388 African American or Black emerging adults aged 18-24 (M = 20.6), mostly female (62%) attending a Midwestern university or residing in the neighboring community. Data on demographics, ERI based on a total score and affirmation and exploration subscales, depression and anxiety symptoms, and problem alcohol and cannabis use were collected. The PROCESS macro for simple mediation was conducted to examine the role of depression and anxiety symptoms in the relationship between ERI and problem alcohol and cannabis use. Results: A significant indirect effect was found for the pathway between ERI, depression and anxiety symptoms, and each substance use outcome. Conclusions: Among African American emerging adults, ERI may reduce the risk for problem alcohol and cannabis use through reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms. Therefore, implementation of substance use interventions that strengthen ERI may be particularly beneficial to reduce risk, as well as promote psychological well-being among African American emerging adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

Patterns of drug screen results and court-ordered substance use treatment referrals and completion among justice-involved youth

Background Substance use is prevalent among justice-involved youth and given the risk of recidivism and other poor outcomes associated with substance use, justice systems have implemented efforts to improve substance use screening and connection to treatment. Although many justice systems use drug screening to monitor substance use, research on patterns of substance use based on drug screen records is lacking. The current study examined court records of drug screens among youth to explore patterns of substance use as well as rates of court-ordered referral to substance use treatment and treatment completion. We also examined differences in these patterns of use and treatment referral and completion by race, ethnicity, and gender. Method We examined court records for N = 3440 youth with records of positive oral drug screen (ODS) between 2011 and 2016 to assess patterns of ODS results (e.g., number and of positive screens), court-ordered referrals to substance use treatment, and rates of treatment completion. Results Of 3440 youth with a positive ODS, 96% tested positive for cannabis and 9.8% for opioids at least once; 48.5% were court-ordered to substance use treatment. Of those referred, 67% had history of completing at least one treatment episode; black youth ( OR = 0.54, p < .01) were less likely to have history of completing substance use treatment. Conclusion Our results underscore the need to utilize objective measures as well as validated self-reports of substance use history in both research and justice system decision-making to aid in identifying youth in need of services. Additional research should identify barriers to substance use treatment completion among this population