Racial/Ethnic Differences in Mental Health and Drug Treatment Perceptions and Experiences of Juvenile Arrestees

• In Event: Experiences and Needs of Diverse Youth in the Justice System

Abstract

Little is known about whether differences exist across racial/ethnic groups of system-involved youth with regard to drug and mental health perceptions and experiences. Such information is needed given that drug and mental health treatment have been found to be associated with decreased recidivism. The purpose of this study was to determine if racial/ethnic differences in past drug and mental health treatment, perceptions of need for mental health and drug treatment, and messages received about mental health differed across racial/ethnic groups in a sample of 377 juvenile arrestees. Controlling for demographic (gender, age, family structure) and risk factors (past incarceration, past victimization, and poly-drug use), we found that Latino and other juvenile arrestees were less likely to have ever received drug treatment than White juvenile arrestees. Latino youth were also less likely than White juvenile arrestees to have ever received mental health treatment, to perceive a need for mental health treatment, or to have been told by mental health professional that they had a mental health problem. Unexpectedly, African American juvenile arrestees did not differ from White juvenile arrestees on any of the drug and mental health treatment variables even when controlling for other variables. Practice and policy implications are discussed.

Authors

• Vera Lopez, Arizona State University

• Lidia Nuño, Arizona State University