Predictors of Youth Drug Dealing: How Community and Peer Influence to Drugs Predict Behavior

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

Alexis Verbin and Brenda Russell, Ph.D.
This study examined youth drug dealing using predictor variables including family discipline, neighborhood crime, peer criminal behavior, adults who drink, sell or use drugs, and have family members with drug/alcohol problems, in prison, or with a criminal background and age of first experience with drugs and alcohol to determine the extent to which they predict youth drug dealing. Participants included 1,980; (52% female and 48% male) middle and high school were asked to rate whether they sold drugs in the past 12 months (0 = never and 7 = 40 +). The majority of students (92.6%) did not sell drugs and 7.4% reported they sold drugs. A multiple regression model revealed the linear combination of 5 predictors of youth drug dealing, F(6, 1442) = 80.62, p < .0001, R = .50, indicating 25% of the variance was accounted for by peer criminal behavior, parental discipline, first experience with drinking, and smoking marijuana, and a marginal effect for neighborhood crime. Adult criminal behavior was not a significant predictor. Youth with family members with drug/alcohol problems, criminal backgrounds or in prison were significantly more likely to deal drugs. Results and implications are discussed.

Author

• Alexis Verbin, Penn State University