Introduction
Various substances, including drugs and alcohol, are some of the most notable predictors of crime. This issue is particularly relevant for adolescents who are frequently not addicted but rather want to try something new. This curiosity is typical for many teenagers; however, it is critical to address this issue to prevent juvenile crime and save younger adults from potential drug addiction. In addition, many teenagers suffer from unhealthy family environments, where they are continually exposed to domestic violence and parents with alcoholism and drug addiction. Hence, societies should raise awareness concerning the dangers of substance use in adolescents and support struggling families.
Ultimately, the current paper focuses on the topic of drug abuse and alcohol-related crimes among teenagers, showing that substances remain the most notable factor in juvenile crime. Moreover, the tendency for risky lifestyles and family-related issues are the most relevant causes of substance use in adolescents.
Drugs and Alcohol Overview
First, it is essential to examine the differences in drug abuse and alcohol-related crimes between teenagers and adults. There is extensive research that shows that alcoholism and other more severe health complications generally occur in people older than 20 years old (Hammerton et al., 2020). In many cases, violent crimes among adults emerge from substance addiction and the necessity to find more money to buy more drugs and alcohol (Hammerton et al., 2020). In a sense, more adults commit alcohol-related crimes out of necessity because of their medical condition, and they need to consume more substances due to addiction.
The situation is drastically different for adolescents, who, in most cases, do not have drug or alcohol addiction. However, teenagers are generally easy to influence, and they frequently perceive substances as a unique endeavor or a motivator for social relationships (Engström, 2018). Moreover, adolescents who are prone to risky lifestyles are much more likely to try drugs and alcohol (Engström, 2018). The research shows that such behaviors have a positive relationship with alcohol use, the chances of being a victim in a crime, and the chances of being an offender in a crime (Engström, 2018).
It generally means that drugs and alcohol significantly boost the “risky” aspect of many teenagers’ lifestyles, eventually leading to their involvement in criminal activity. Another relevant problem is that family-related issues have a significant impact on adolescents’ likelihood of drug abuse and related crimes (Martin et al., 2020). It implies that adolescents frequently adopt unhealthy behavior patterns from their parents and siblings. The current essay focuses on these two causes of drug abuse and alcohol-related crimes to demonstrate their impact on juvenile crime.
Risky Lifestyles and Substance Use
Adolescents are more prone to risky behaviors and endeavors than adults generally because of a lack of experience and general curiosity. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey highlights that during this age period, people are most likely to try substances for the first time (Jones et al., 2020). Moreover, the study finds that this behavior not only elevates the chances of crime but also increases the likelihood of teen mortality, morbidity, and decreased economic conditions (Jones et al., 2020). Yet, impulsive behavior remains a notable contributing factor to substance use and alcohol-related crimes among adolescents.
Consequently, risky lifestyles enable other associated factors, such as teens’ socialization with criminals and drug dealers. The study reports that peer and adult coercion into substances has a positive association with risky behaviors among teenagers (Jones et al., 2020). In other words, when adolescents see how drugs and alcohol enable short-term fun, they rarely think of potential consequences and health complications. This problem is highly relevant for teens globally, resulting in a higher percentage of drug- and alcohol-related crimes (Engström, 2018). Moreover, it demonstrates an indirect link between juvenile crime and the glorification of drugs in media and general adolescent perception (Engström, 2018).
In the United States, this problem is more evident due to the differences in how various demographic groups perceive substances. For instance, the report shows that male students are much more likely to try more addictive drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, while white students are more likely to consume alcohol (Jones et al., 2020). These differences show that risky behaviors are enabled by various factors, including the social environment.
Family-Related Issues and Substance Use
Consequently, upbringing and family-related issues have a significant impact on the likelihood of drug abuse and alcohol-related crimes in adolescents. The associated factors include parents’ alcoholism, economic hardships, single parenting, family stress, and culture/ethnicity (Martin et al., 2020). Adolescence is a highly stressful but significant age period when people are highly susceptible to any type of influence (Martin et al., 2020). In this sense, parents who are prone to drinking/drugs, domestic violence, and even crime will most likely affect their children’s perception of the world.
Consequently, the degree of influence that parents have on their children depends on the age of the teenagers. Hammerton et al. (2020) found that family-related issues are most concerning during earlier phases of development. Namely, children affected by domestic violence or parental drug abuse demonstrate a direct relationship between their age and the likelihood of criminal behavior in the future (Hammerton et al., 2020). In the study, the authors concluded that this influence begins at the age of four (strongest association) and generally finishes at the age of thirteen (weakest association) (Hammerton et al., 2020).
It means that when four-year-old children consistently watch their parents drinking, there is a relatively high chance that they will commit alcohol-related crimes by the age of fifteen (Hammerton et al., 2020). It is a highly concerning statistic primarily because of the high level of domestic violence, alcoholism, and drug addiction among adult parents, who show this example to their children.
Personal Opinion
After reflecting on the topic, I have realized that my opinion aligns with the mentioned facts. In my experience, most teenagers who commit crimes while under the influence usually have family-related problems or are typically prone to risky behavior. However, before exploring the topic, I would have also assumed that peer coercion had a much greater impact on teenagers’ likelihood to drink and use substances. Nevertheless, most of the examined research demonstrates that risky behavior and family-related issues are much more contributing factors to alcohol-related crimes (Engström, 2018; Hammerton et al., 2020).
In my opinion, it is critical to mitigate these issues in the earlier phases by improving the quality of life for families struggling with alcohol/drug addiction and introducing preventative programs in schools. After all, it is more effective to address the causes of the issue than battle with their consequences, such as alcohol-related crimes among adolescents and potential substance addiction.
Conclusion
Juvenile crime is a relevant problem in the United States, and drug/alcohol abuse remains a notable contributing factor to this problem. The current essay has demonstrated that the tendency to risky behavior and family-related issues are two primary causes of alcohol-related crimes among adolescents. Hence, it is essential to change the perception of substances among teenagers and help families who struggle with finances and drug addiction. Ultimately, focusing on the causes of the problem will help mitigate a large number of crimes and instances of violent behavior among adolescents.
References
Engström, A. (2018). Associations between risky lifestyles and involvement in violent crime during adolescence. Victims & Offenders, 13(7), 898-920. Web.
Hammerton, G., Edwards, A. C., Mahedy, L., Murray, J., Maughan, B., Kendler, K. S.,… & Heron, J. (2020). Externalizing pathways to alcohol‐related problems in emerging adulthood. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(6), 721-731. Web.
Jones, C. M., Clayton, H. B., Deputy, N. P., Roehler, D. R., Ko, J. Y., Esser, M. B.,… & Hertz, M. F. (2020). Prescription opioid misuse and use of alcohol and other substances among high school students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019. MMWR Supplements, 69(1), 38. Web.
Martin, M. J., Conger, R. D., & Robins, R. W. (2019). Family stress processes and drug and alcohol use by Mexican American adolescents. Developmental Psychology, 55(1), 170. Web.