Drug use among young Peruvian offenders: a mixed methods study from a developmental approach

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

There is an interdependent and complex relationship between drug use and crime. Using the Framework of Developmental Criminology and drug use Risk Assessment, and mixed methods of research; we analyze the possible relationships between antisocial behavior, drug use, and associated risk-protective factors to these both ones behaviors; employing a national database (N=1,233; M=16.8 SD=1.2 years old) about the re-offending and some psychological characteristics between Peruvian young offenders (95% males and 5% females), and seven focus groups (71% males and 29% females). Furthermore, the effects of a treatment non-residential program for drug intervention in young offenders were evaluated to identify if psychological variables such as personality characteristics and coping strategies, positively affect to drug abuse risk (reducing it), using a quasi-experimental design. For this purpose, we developed a drug intervention program, applied for three months to a group of N=85 youth offenders (M=17 SD=1; 94% males and 6% females) with problematic use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and cocaine. The findings were consistent with international evidence, highlighting predictive ability of alcohol abuse and cannabis dependence over the recidivism, of the coping strategies as protective factors of the risk of drug abuse, and of the antisocial personality characteristics as risk factors.

Author

• Hugo Morales Cordova, National Major University of San Marcos