Uncovering Substance Use Dynamics: A Study of Incarcerated Youth
Hardin, Emily
Hardin, Emily
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2025-05-19
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Abstract
Substance use among adolescents?especially those involved in the juvenile justice (JJ) system?is a significant public health concern with lasting consequences. Youth involved in the legal system are at greater risk for developing substance use disorders (SUDs) and often face related challenges, including mental health issues and an increased likelihood of re-incarceration. Identifying substance use patterns in this population is essential for developing targeted treatment and intervention strategies that can mitigate these risks. This study examined the prevalence and patterns of substance use among incarcerated youth, focusing on how these patterns, as well as changes in use over time, relate to treatment needs. Data were analyzed as a sub-study of a larger project called the Leveraging Safe Adults (LeSA) project, a 5-year longitudinal study evaluating the effectiveness of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) in reducing opioid use among youth after release from JJ facilities. Quantitative methods, including frequencies, cross-tabulations, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), were used to analyze self-report survey data. Results at baseline (N = 250) indicate that incarcerated youth report most frequent use of marijuana and alcohol and identify marijuana as the most problematic substance for them. However, a general decrease in marijuana and alcohol use was observed at a 3-month follow-up (n = 90) and 6-month follow-up (n = 60). These findings suggest a need for targeted interventions focused on marijuana use and provide preliminary evidence that substance use patterns in this population can improve over time. Findings could inform future interventions designed to address the unique challenges faced by adolescents within the juvenile justice system.