Examining the Coevolution of Drug Use Variety and Different Types of Offending Frequency Among Justice-Involved Adolescents

Abstract

Past research demonstrates a strong link between drug use and crime among justice-involved adolescents, yet little is known about the joint development between drug use variety and various types of criminal offending frequencies from adolescence to young adulthood. Using a sample of male adolescent offenders ( N = 842), this article examines the coevolution of drug use variety and three separate types of offending frequencies. First, four group-based trajectory models identify unique group developmental patterns for drug use variety, drug sales offending, property offending, and violent offending. Next, three dual-trajectory models examine the coevolution between drug use variety and each type of criminal offending. Findings reveal a general pattern of desistance for both drug use and offending, while also illustrating notable variability in group trajectory patterns for drug use variety and criminal behavior. This article concludes that adolescents with elevated drug use variety make up a large proportion of frequent offenders.

Exploring Problematic Substance use Trajectory in Hong Kong: A Life Course Perspective

“…While the majority of life course substance use research adopted quantitative methods (e.g. Guo et al, 2002; Kuettel, 2021; Sullivan & Hamilton, 2007), qualitative life course substance use research can provide more in-depth understanding to problematic drug use over the life span. For instance, Foster et al (2021) show that problematic drug use was more likely not to be recognized by individuals themselves earlier in life.…”