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Risky drug practices and treatment needs of youth detained in New South Wales Juvenile Justice Centres
Author(s) -
HANDO JULIE,
HOWARD JOHN,
ZIBERT ERNIE
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1080/09595239700186431
Subject(s) - psychiatry , drug , medicine , drug treatment , quarter (canadian coin) , economic justice , criminal justice , juvenile , juvenile delinquency , population , substance abuse , binge drinking , family medicine , environmental health , psychology , suicide prevention , poison control , criminology , political science , geography , archaeology , biology , law , genetics
Demographic, drug use and criminal correlates of risky drug practices were examined among 279 detained youth in NSW Juvenile Justice Centres. Binge drinking was common, with 63% reporting the consumption of at least five drinks in a row in the 2 weeks prior to incarceration. It was associated with being older, being from an English‐speaking background, regular tobacco consumption and having a current drug problem. A quarter (24%) of the sample had injected an illicit drug, over one‐third (37%) of whom also reported sharing needles. Injectors were more likely to be polydrug users, regular amphetamine users and have a past history of drug treatment. While 16% of the sample indicated a need for drug treatment, only 10% were currently receiving some form of treatment, most commonly counselling. Appropriate strategies are needed among this population to address gaps in treatment provision.