Drugs, Delinquency, and Other Data

According to a recent Gallup poll, crime is the Nation’s number one concern. Law enforcement officials will attest to its growing dominance; crime victims can attest to its harsh impact on daily life. Accordingly, a new study with positive implications for delinquency and drug abuse prevention assumes added significance. By studying some 4,000 youth over a 5-year period, researchers have identified a pattern of causes or factors leading to delinquency -- some obvious, some not so obvious -- involving drugs, guns, peers, school, and family. They were able to chart specific behavioral pathways to delinquency.