Variables Asociadas al Inicio y Consumo Actual de Sustancias en Adolescentes en Conflicto con la Ley

Abstract

The age of onset and the current use of substances are important risk factors to consider in treatment programs with juvenile offenders. A non-experimental study was conducted to determine the relationship between the age of onset and the current use of substances with their associated factors in 53 juvenile offenders. Adolescents prosecuted for sexual offenses, as well as violent offenders, showed a higher starting age compared to other offenses. Furthermore, polydrug use was associated with a higher current consumption of commonly used drugs as well as illegal drugs. For its part, the age of onset was related to commonly used drugs, while previous conflicts were related to illegal drugs. The results are discussed and the need for further research on drug use and juvenile delinquency is suggested.

A new approach to urinalysis: effectiveness of a contingency management program among adolescent offenders in Spain

“…Thus, biological testing, such as urine drug screening tests (UDT or urinalysis), is not only an effective tool to analyse drug consumption and monitoring but also facilitates the orientation and application of treatment programs in detention aimed at reducing the prevalence of relapses. Urine drug screening tests (UDT or urinalysis) conducted at the start of detention showed highly problematic patterns of consumption, in line with the results of previous research (San Juan et al, 2009;Uceda-Maza et al, 2016;Vega-Cauich and Zumárraga-García, 2019), confirming that substance abuse is a common problem in the penitentiary population in general and specifically among young offenders (Indig et al, 2016;Calero-Plaza et al, 2020). Although inmates entered the CEMJTC some one to three days after detention, some form of drug consumption was detected in four out of five inmates.…”

“…With regards to relapses, cannabis was found to be the most commonly detected drug both prior to their detention period and upon the return of participants to the Centre after leave permits. The results of the study show how cannabis is currently the most prevalent drug in substance abuse problems among young offenders in Spain (Vega-Cauich and Zumárraga-García, 2019;Calero-Plaza et al, 2020).…”

“…While there is no independent tribunal in the Spanish legal system, for years, Juvenile Courts have been applying therapeutic programs for the treatment of substance abuse, either through outpatient programs or in detention (Lázaro-Pérez, 2001). Thus, the courts are clearly aware of the link between criminal behaviour and drug abuse (Bujosa Vadell et al, 2021), the most prevalent being cannabis (San Juan et al, 2009;Contreras et al, 2012;Uceda-Maza et al, 2016;Vega-Cauich and Zumárraga-García, 2019). An exhaustive search revealed no studies of the Spanish population which measure the effectiveness of the aforementioned intervention or contingency management therapies in outpatient programs.…”

Eficacia de un programa de tratamiento en el consumo de drogas en menores infractores desde la psicología positiva

“…En España, los estudios que se han centrado en evaluar la influencia del consumo de drogas en la génesis y mantenimiento de la conducta delictiva han replicado la existencia de un patrón consistente de consumo de diferentes sustancias en los menores infractores (San Juan, Ocáriz y Germán 2009; Uceda-Maza, Navarro-Pérez y Pérez-Cosín, 2016;Vega-Cauich y Zumárraga-García, 2019). A pesar de que en España no existe un tribunal independiente, los Juzgados de Menores llevan años aplicando medidas terapéuticas alternativas al internamiento.…”

Autoestima y consumo de cannabis en adolescentes: una revisión integrativa

“…Estas cifras son alarmantes, en consideración de las consecuencias derivadas de su consumo durante la adolescencia. Se ha establecido implicaciones negativas a nivel cerebral, tanto desde un punto de vista estructural como funcional 5 , asimismo, puede derivar en dependencia, delincuencia, agresión física y abandono escolar 6,7 . Además, se han comprobado efectos adversos para la salud a nivel respiratorio y cardiovascular 8 .…”