Drug and Alcohol Use and Delinquency

Drug and Alcohol Use and Delinquency Engaging in alcohol and other drug use causes not only the juvenile to suffer but as well as their families and their communities causing an increased burden on the juvenile justice system. Due to the potential negative consequences that juvenile drug use poses, considerable effort has been made toward understanding the consequences, prevalence, and causes. Considerable life has been lost to drug abuse and dependence, particularly from the use of alcohol and tobacco. Not only are alcohol, tobacco and other drugs abused, more recently prescription drugs abuse has been on the rise. Prescription drugs account for the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs. Drug Use and Delinquency Engaging in alcohol and other drug use causes not only the juvenile to suffer but as well as their families and their communities. An increased burden is also placed on the juvenile justice system because of their strong association between substance abuse and delinquency. Most adult drug users report adolescence as the time when drugs were introduced to them. Due to the potential negative consequences that juvenile drug use poses, considerable effort has been made toward understanding the consequences, prevalence, and causes. Considerable life has been lost to drug abuse and dependence, particularly from the use of alcohol and tobacco. Health-related consequences of teenage substance abuse include accidental injuries, physical disabilities and diseases, and the effects of possible overdoses. The danger of contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases increases for substance-abusing youth if they engage in high-risk behaviors. High-risk behaviors include the use of psychoactive substances, particularly those that are injected, or activities resulting from poor judgment and impulse control while experiencing the effects of mood-altering substances. Even death is possible through suicide, homicide, accidents, and illness for youth involved in al cohol and other drugs (Crowe Dickinson, 1997). Hard drug use is indicated in the deaths of 8,000 Americans each year, while alcohol and tobacco use is implicated in the deaths of 130,000 and 440,000 individuals, respectively (Boyd, 2009). Information drawn from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) indicates that drug-related hospital emergency episodes for youth ages 12-17 increased by 17% in 1994 over the rates for 1993. Data from 2005 found that out of the 50,000 12- to 17-year-olds who sought emergency department treatment for medical problems stemming from drug use, only 9,000 sought medical aid for cocaine use (Boyd, 2009). DAWN is a national survey conducted annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to estimate drug-related emergency department visits for various substances (Crowe Dickinson, 1997). According to Boyd (2009), adolescent drug use negatively impacts cognitive, emotional, and social development and has the potential to stunt memory and learning skills. Adolescent drug use poses a significant risk factor for psychiatric disorders, suicide, accidents, pregnancy, truancy, school dropout, delinquency, and drug abuse and dependence during both adolescence and adulthood. According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health in 2005, less than 200,000 of the 2.1 million adolescents estimated to need drug treatment actually received it. The rate and popularity of drug use among juveniles are captured and monitored by two major surveys: the Monitoring the Future study, previously called the High School Senior Survey, which collects data of the Nationà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s youth from 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade students since 1975, and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which collects data from juveniles ages 12 to 18. Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use, which are referred to as soft drugs, are the three most commonly used drugs among youth. Says Boyd (2009) in 2004, almost 20% of youth were estimated to have used alcohol within the past month. Rates of drug use differ along demographic lines. Rates and popularity increase as youth steer through adolescence. Alcohol and tobacco are typically introduced before marijuana which usually leads to the introduction of hard drugs at older ages. Over 40 theories of adolescent drug use have been developed. Most theories are developed from risk factors ste mming from peer, family, school, and community fields of influence that may increase youthà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s risk for drug use. Poor school performance; drug norms and attitudes; delinquency; positive drug expectancies; poor relationships with parents; parental conflict; and association with peers, parents, and other adults who use drugs or espouse drug norms and attitudes have been consistently documented as risk factors for youth drug introduction and use. Racial disparity exists of juveniles in the arrest and formal case processing for drug law violations, with the largest disparity observed between Caucasian and African American youth. African American youth have historically been formally processed at significantly higher rates than Caucasian, even though the average juvenile arrested for violating alcohol or illegal drug laws is a Caucasian 16- to 17-year-old male. Data show that Caucasian youth are less likely to have their drug cases petitioned, be detained and incarcerated, and have their drug cases waived to adult court than youth of other races. For example, in 2002, FBI data indicated that 65% of African American juvenile drug cases were petitioned compared to that of 55% of Caucasian juvenile drug cases. During that year, the proportion of African American youth detained for drug offenses was more than twice that of Caucasian youth (33% vs. 16%), and nearly twice that of youth of other races (17%) (Boyd, 2009). Arthur (2007) has reported that children of neglectful parents are more likely to suffer impaired psychological development and are also at a higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse and delinquency. In the Office for National Statistics study in 2000, 47% of children evaluated as having a mental health disorder had a parent who was likely to have a mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression. Many research studies have found evidence of a strong association between juvenile substance abuse and antisocial behavior in young people. The results of a Home Office research study on drug testing of arrestees found that 11% of 16- to 20-year-olds tested positive for opiates and 5% tested positive for cocaine. Approximately 65% of the sample of 103 young offenders on supervision orders had used cannabis, over 20% had used ecstasy, over 10% had used cocaine and approximately 6% had used heroin, according to the Audit Commission Study. A study of 50 young offenders for a range of offenses that were on probation found that almost all reported lifetime experiences of at least one illicit substance, with an extremely large percentage who had used crack cocaine (38%), heroin (24%), or methadone (14%) in the previous month. According to Arthur (2007), a study done by Collinson found that drug use figured centrally and excessively in the lives of 59% of a sample of 80 young male offenders in custody. Collinsonà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s sample reported figures of 54% for lifetime occurrence of LSD use, 43% for ecstasy and 20% for heroin and cocaine or crack. The Youth Lifestyles Survey supports the finding that juvenile drug use and juvenile offending are associated. Of the serious and persistent offenders aged 12-17, 38% of males and 20% of females admitted to using drugs in the past 12 months, compared to 7% of males and 4% of females for the rest of the cohort. The Youth Lifestyle Survey also found that 75% of persistent offenders reported lifetime use of drugs. In addition to these findings, the survey suggests that the rates of drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin are significantly higher among young serious and persistent offenders than they are to occasionally users. Drug use was highest among the most frequent offenders and lowest in the less frequent offenders according to the Youth Lifestyles Survey. Over half of the sample of the survey agreed that alcohol or drugs had been associated with their offending and 44% said that they sometimes committed crimes to get money for drugs or alcohol. Research indicated that the risk factors for substance abuse and delinquency overlap substantially. These risk factors include poor parental supervision, a disrupted family background, poor psychological well-being, difficulties in school, school exclusion, truancy, low educational achievement, having been abused, having been in care, parental divorce or separation, or having a family member with a criminal record. It has been suggested that substance abuse and delinquency develop together. Thus, links between juvenile offending and drug use may exist because of the shared background of drug abuse and delinquency, rather than because drug use causes offendin g (Arthur, 2007). According to Crowe and Dickinson (1997), a study conducted in 1998 in Washington, D.C., found that youth who sold and used drugs were more likely to commit crimes than those who only sold drugs or only used drugs. Heavy drug users were more likely to commit property crimes than nonusers, and youth who trafficked in drugs reported higher rates of crimes against others. Youth in this sample were most likely to commit burglary or sell drugs while using drugs or while seeking to obtain drugs (Crowe Dickinson, 1997). Prescription drugs account for the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs (Office of Natural Drug Control Policy). Taking prescription drugs that have not been recommended by a doctor can be more dangerous than people think it is and is considered drug abuse. Prescription drugs can sometimes be easier to get than street drugs or are sold on the street along with. A 2009 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that prescription drug abuse is on the rise, with 20% of teens saying they have taken a prescription drug without a doctorà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s prescription (KidsHealth 2010). Prescription drugs are only safe for the individuals who actually have prescriptions for them. According to the ONDCP, teens are more likely to misuse prescription drugs, believing that these substances are safer than illicit drugs because they are prescribed by a healthcare profes sional. The most commonly used prescription drugs are opiods such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Demerol; central nervous system depressants such as Nembutal, Valium, and Xanax; and stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall. During 2006, there were an estimated 741,425 emergency department visits that involved non-medical use of prescription or OTC pharmaceuticals or dietary supplements. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, treatment for prescription painkillers increased more than 400% between 1997 and 2007. Some states have developed prescription monitoring programs, which can help prevent and detect the diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical controlled substances (ONDCP). Preventive factors that can decrease the risk for drug use include attachment to social others; commitment to goals and dreams; and a belief in and respect for laws and authority. The employment of youth drug prevention programs and the enforcement of drug laws are just two major lines of action that are taken to prevent juvenile drug use. Youth drug prevention programs are typically school-based and utilize primary prevention strategies designed to prevent juvenile drug initiation. Drug prevention programs that have been shown to have the most promise for preventing or delaying drug use include those founded on the social influence model (Boyd, 2009).

More Than One Billion Indians: a Gigantic Problem or a Sea of Opportunities

If the 2011 census is to be believed the current population of India is around 1. 21 billion plus or minus a few millions and we all know to which side the scale is going to tip. The Indian population is varied not only on the lines of religion, region but also on the basis of thought process. While on one hand we are facing the problem of land acquisition from the poorest of poor farmers, on the other hand luxury car maker brand Mercedes has shown a sales growth of 67 percent. The huge population of India provides a large service sector which plays a crucial role in developing the economy of a nation. Moreover, 30% of the population is between the ages of 10-24 years which clearly shows the amount of untapped energy that India has. If used and guides correctly this can be used to boost our industrial and structural sectors. The brain drain that India has suffered since last two decades clearly shows that Indians have huge potential and they are just looking for the right niche to develop themselves. Indians have raised themselves from all walks of life and made a mark in fields from astronomy to yoga. On the other hand, the resources that the country has are limited and therefore a burgeoning population restricts the per capita availability. We have seen an increase in the crime rate due to the unavailability of even the most basic amenities. The government has clearly hit the mark by creating employment opportunities for the rural masses through programs such as NREGA, NRLM, etc. But even creating such employment opportunities costs the government a lot of money and resources. The glass can be half empty or half full. We may say we have more than a billion mouths to feed but we forget that we also have more than 2 billion hands to make such a humongous task possible.

The Birth of the American Nation

The American Revolution was not only a battle against the British; it was also a period of transition from a colony to a newly-formed country. Belonging to country that was just liberated from colonial rule, the Americans attempted to apply revolutionary ideology to the building of their nation and the making of their society.They managed to do so by first basing the Declaration of Independence on political freedom, social tolerance and economic opportunity. (http://www. megaessays. com, n. d.) Political freedom played a huge influence on the ideas and ambitions of the revolutionaries and also resulted in social tolerance and economic opportunity. (http://www. megaessays. com, n. d. )Hence, the Declaration of Independence was not a promise or an excuse to wage war with Britain – it was a challenge to the Americans to preserve their sovereignty and develop as a nation. (http://www. megaessays. com, n. d. ) Political freedom for the 13 colonies meant â€Å"breaking away from En gland and being able to develop a sense of identity and a sense of self-government.† (http://megaessays. com, n. d. ) â€Å"Sense of identity and a sense of self-government† referred to a central government that they themselves elected and in whose affairs they have a say. (http://megaessays. com, n. d. ) Indeed, the lack of political representation angered the Americans more than any other atrocity committed against them by the British. (http://megaessays. com, n. d. ) The absence of their opinion in government policy-making allowed the British to enact unjust laws, such as the Sugar Act (1764) and the Stamp Act (1765).The Sugar Act imposed a three-cent tax on imported refined sugar and increased taxes on coffee, indigo and certain types of wine. (http://www. socialstudiesforkids. com, n. d. ) Meanwhile, the Stamp Act required taxation for every printed paper that American colonists used. (http://www. socialstudiesforkids. com, n. d. ) With the 13 colonies free from th e grasp of the British government, the Americans then proceeded to create laws that promoted economic and social liberty. On March 1, 1784, Thomas Jefferson proposed a prohibition on slavery in the entire United States after 1800 (this was narrowly defeated).(http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) On May 8, 1785, the US Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785, which divided the northwest territories into â€Å"townships set at 6 square miles, subdivided into 36 lots of 640 acres each, with each lot selling for no less than $640. † (http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) Thomas Jefferson's Ordinance of Religious Freedom (1786) dictated that â€Å"no man may be forced to attend or support any church or be discriminated against because of his religious preference. † (http://www. historyplace. com, n. d.) The first amendment to the US Constitution was later patterned after this regulation. (http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) Despite their nation's independence, the Americans continued using some long-held conventions, laws and customs. For instance, the US Constitution espoused the national government's division into three branches: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. The legislative branch creates the laws, the executive enforces the laws and the judicial branch interprets the laws. The colonial government has a similar structure. The governor headed the executive branch in each colony.He was â€Å"appointed by the king in the royal colonies, named by the proprietor in the proprietary colonies, and chosen by the voters in the charter colonies. † (www. grazian-archive. com, n. d. ) The governor was assisted by a council (appointed by the same agent that appointed the governor) in administering to the affairs of the colony. The governor (in the royal and proprietary colonies) can also exercise a suspensive (temporary) or full veto upon the colonial legislatures. The legislative branch in the colonial government was a bicame ral unit that was tasked to enact laws.It also had the authority to appoint several administrative officials, starting with the colonial treasurer. (www. grazian-archive. com, n. d) The judicial branch of the colonial government dealt with all cases in the colonies. Colonial judges were either appointed by the king or elected by the people, depending on the type of colony. They were tasked to provide colonists judicial rights that the British people enjoyed at home. (www. grazian-archive. com, n. d) Another long-held convention that the Americans used was the development of individual military institutions for each state.(http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) This ran parallel to Britain, which had separate military units for the colonies and the mother country. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) A civil war broke out in Britain in 1642, resulting in the abolition of the monarchy and the House of Lords and the relinquishment of power to General Oliver Cromwell and the army. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) Under Cromwell's dictatorship, the size of the military establishment under the British king was limited.This had a negative effect on the colonies, where Cromwell's absolutism fueled distrust of standing armies and the employment of professional soldiers. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) To compensate for the lack of soldiers, the colonies resorted to citizen-soldiers. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) A law passed in 1777 required able young men (except for slaves) to render military service to the colonies. They were trained in the basics of war and law enforcement and were also considered potential recruits for short military offensives in the frontier.Land grants were often provided in exchange for able soldiering, turning the military into an attractive prospect for laborers with no property of their own and their sons. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) But the American Revolution left some problems unresolved, if not created new ones. The Americans remained divided on the topic of slavery (Brinkley150). Slavery was abolished in states where either slavery was minimal or was non-existent at all, such as in New England and Pennsylvania, respectively (Brinkley 150).Even the South experienced pressure to rectify or even abolish the custom. All southern states except South Carolina and Georgia banned further importation of slaves from other countries, while South Carolina also prohibited slave trade during the war (Brinkley 150). Virginia created a law calling for manumission (the freeing of slaves) (Brinkley 150). However, slavery still survived in all southern and border states. The American Revolution also did little to promote the rights of women.Although the war made it easier for women in some states to obtain divorces and allowed women in New Jersey to vote, they still remained inferior and dependent on men (Brinkley 147). They had no access to education and h ad no legal protection from abusive and tyrannical men (Brinkley 146). Married women had no property rights of their own, making it difficult for widows of revolutionaries to regain their dowries from their husbands' estates (Brinkley 147). Aside from the issues of slaver and the emancipation of women, the Americans had to deal with post-war economic depression as well.(http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) The hostilities left Americans with a host of economic problems, such as shortage of currency, high taxes, nagging creditors, farm foreclosures and bankruptcies. (http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) Increasing poverty at this period led to rebellion and violence. On August 31, 1786, to avoid the trial and imprisonment of debtors, former war captain Daniel Shays led an armed throng and stopped the Northampton Court from observing a hearing (Shays was already an impoverished farmer at the time of the revolt).Shays and his followers later instigated several related uprisings. Th e American Revolution served as a model for later revolutions in Europe and Latin America. It served as the primary influence in the French Revolution (1798-1799), the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) and the South American wars of independence (Venezuela – 1811; Argentina – 1810 and Chile – 1810). But the most important lesson it taught was that while the oppressed can free themselves from a tyrant, they should ensure that they deserve the freedom that they won. Works Cited Brinkley, Alan.A Survey: American History. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2007. â€Å"Essay on Declaration of Independence and American History. † n. d. Megaessays. com. 16 January 2007 . â€Å"Sugar Act. † n. d. Social Studies for Kids. 15 January 2008 . â€Å"A Summary of the 1765 Stamp Act. † n. d. Colonial Williamsburg. 15 January 2008 . â€Å"A New Nation: 1784 to 1790. † n. d. The History Place. 15 January 2008. â€Å"Three Branches of Government. † n . d. Utah Education Network. 15 January 2008 . â€Å"Early American Governments and the Confederation. † n. d. Grazian-Archive. com. 15 January 2008 . â€Å"The US Army and the Founding of the Republic. † n. d. AmericanRevolution. com 16 January 2008 .

Mahatma Gandhi’s Nonviolent Movement Against the British...

A hero is a man or woman that sets an admirable example for people around them. There are heroes in every field, every region and every walk of life that demonstrated these traits and qualities. Countless examples prove the same principle in every case. There are many examples throughout history of heroes who lived their message, made sacrifices and served their people well. The timeless examples of modern history include Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent movement against the British occupation of India. Mahatma Gandhi has inspired people all around the world to be better people by peacefully reconciling their differences and looking for common grounds. He practiced love and forgiveness towards his friends and enemies. This is a great example of†¦show more content†¦The first thing that distinguishes heroes from ordinary people is that they have particular morals and they can be defined by these morals. Heroes must be ethical in order to be different from others. Being resp ectful is one of the most valuable ethics that heroes could have. In addition, heroes must be helpful and they must be able to help people at any time. Tollefson states in his article, Is a Hero Really Nothing but a Sandwich? that heroes devote their abilities for others more than they do for themselves (Tollefson, 1993). In other words, heroes dedicate their own high capabilities to people other than themselves. Consequently, heroes can be known by their morals and principles. Secondly, heroism also requires courage; the courage of doing the right thing and the courage to stick to their core purpose. Polster writes in her article, Eves Daughters that In truth, she simply considers the risk of death or injury to be less important than her purpose (Polster, 2001). In other words, heroes believe so firmly in their purpose that they are willing to sacrifice their lives in its pursuit. Thus, this unwavering courage sets the difference between a hero and a follower. Courage means the ability to move forward in the face of risks, uncertainty and possibility of loss. People feel immense respect towards the heroes for their willingness to conquer fear and do the right thing every time. Subsequently, courage is a keyShow MoreRelatedMahatma Gandhi And The Indian Independence Movement1009 Words   |  5 PagesWhen we hear the word ‘India’, the first thing that comes to mind is Mahatma Gandhi. The word ‘Mahatma’ is a literal translation to: great sage, a saint, a person to be considered as a messiah (Gandhi, 2011, P4). Descriptions such as freedom fighter, warrior for justice and activist are just three popular terms that describe Mohandas Gandhi today. But are all these descriptions true? Mahatma Gandhi is revered by mainstream opinion as a Jesus like figure. The media and in particular, Richard AttenboroughRead MoreThe Power of the Pen2028 Words   |  9 Pagesthe pen is mightier than the sword. Throughout history many important leaders have demonstrated that the power of writing is stronger than the tyranny of man. These men were often incarcerated for fighting for what they believed in. Heroes like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela are a few of many who fought injustice or unfair living conditions and made a difference in the lives of their fellow men by speaking out through their writings. Jimmy Santiago Baca is also a man who hasRead MoreIndian Foreign Policy: Non Alignment in the Midst of the Cold War5579 Words   |  23 Pageswith the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961. Non Alignment stands for the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries in their struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics. Of these countries that follow the doctrine of non-alignment India is of great importance not only becauseRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesmode of escape from oppression and poverty and, in many instances, as an avenue toward advancement for an unprecedented number of people that soared well into the hundreds of millions by century’s end. But for a clear majority of these migrants, movement was coerced by flight from war and oppression or was enticed by labor recruiters who preyed on the desperately poor. The prospects for the great majority were almost invariably lives of drudge labor in urban sweatshops, on tropical plantations