Substance Abuse among 12 and 13-year-old Young People in Belfast at High Risk of Developing Problem Drug Use

McCrystal, Patrick; Higgins, Kathryn; Percy, Andrew

doi:10.1080/13575270500151854

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 23 publications

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“…Despite the centrality of vulnerable young people to the Government's drug strategy, relatively little reliable evidence is available about the patterns of drug consumption among such groups (Hammersley & Pearl, 1997). Existing evidence has consistently reported higher levels of substance abuse by these young people compared with their contemporaries who are not considered to be vulnerable or ''at risk'' (Audit Commission, 1996;Flood-Page, Campbell, Harrington, & Miller, 2000;McCrystal, Higgins, Percy, & Thornton, 2005;Melrose, 2000;Miller & Plant, 1999;Osler, Street, Lall, & Vincent, 2002;Powis et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Substance Use among Young People Living in Residential State Care

McCrystal¹,

Percy

Higgins

2008

Child Care in Practice

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Existing empirical evidence on substance use among young people living in residential state care during adolescence is comparatively limited. This paper reports on substance use trends of young people living in residential state care during three annual datasweeps when aged 14, 15 and 16 years. A repeated cross-sectional research design was utilised in the research. The findings suggest some similarities for lifetime prevalence rates for tobacco and alcohol use for those living in residential state care with a group of same-age young people not living in residential state care who participated in the research. However, solvent abuse and cannabis use was higher among those living in care. More frequent substance use was reported by the residential care sample for all substances at each stage of the study. These findings suggest that young people living in state care continue to merit higher levels of vigilance from researchers and policy-makers in order to fully understand this behaviour and develop appropriate prevention initiatives to meet their needs regarding potential drug problems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Substance Use among Young People Living in Residential State Care

McCrystal¹,

Percy

Higgins

2008

Child Care in Practice

Self Cite

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Drug use amongst young people attending emotional and behavioural difficulty units during adolescence: a longitudinal analysis

McCrystal

Percy

Higgins

2007

Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

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This paper reports on the findings from a longitudinal survey of the drug use behaviours of young people who were attending Emotional and Behavioural Difficulty (EBD) units from the age of 11-16 years. It forms part of the Belfast Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of adolescent drug use. This paper presents a follow-up report to a cross-sectional paper that reported on drug use behaviours of a sample of young people attending EBD units when aged 12-13 years at school (Year 9). In the present paper, reported drug use and behaviours associated with increased risk of its use between the ages of 11 and 16 years were examined. The findings show that those attending EBD units consistently reported higher levels of licit and illicit drug use throughout adolescence. Compared with young people in mainstream school, higher levels of behaviours associated with drug use including antisocial behaviour, disaffection with school, and poor communication with their parents/guardians were noted. These findings have implications for the development and timing of targeted prevention initiatives for young people attending EBD units at all stages of adolescent development.

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Exclusion and Marginalisation in Adolescence: The Experience of School Exclusion on Drug Use and Antisocial Behaviour

McCrystal¹,

Higgins²,

Percy³

2007

Journal of Youth Studies

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Young people excluded from school are a group at an increased risk of drug use and antisocial behaviour during adolescence and later marginalisation and exclusion from society in adulthood. As part of the Belfast Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of the onset and development of adolescent drug use, young people who entered post-primary school in 2000 (aged 11/12 years) were surveyed annually on four occasions. This paper reports on findings from this survey in relation to a supplementary group of young people who were surveyed because they had been excluded from school. The findings show higher levels of drug use and antisocial behaviour among school excludees, lower levels of communication with their parents/guardians, higher levels of contact with the criminal justice system and increased likelihood of living in communities characterised with neighbourhood disorganisation. This lifestyle perhaps suggests these young people are leading a life that is already taking them towards the margins of society.

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Substance Abuse among 12 and 13-year-old Young People in Belfast at High Risk of Developing Problem Drug Use

Cited by 3 publications

References 23 publications

Substance Use among Young People Living in Residential State Care

Substance Use among Young People Living in Residential State Care

Drug use amongst young people attending emotional and behavioural difficulty units during adolescence: a longitudinal analysis

Exclusion and Marginalisation in Adolescence: The Experience of School Exclusion on Drug Use and Antisocial Behaviour

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