Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Journal Article 1: Leal, W., & Mier, C. (2015). What’s age got to do with it? Comparing juveniles and adults on drugs and crime. Crime & Delinquency, 63, 334–352.

Abstract: Age and drugs are both well-known correlates of crime, with the age–crime curve being a staple in criminology. However, the relationship between age and crime (especially certain types of crime) is still highly debated. For drug use, the evidence is mixed when it comes to the effects of age. Unfortunately, there is little research on how age affects the relationship between drugs and crime. The current study aims to determine whether there are differences in the relationship between drugs and crime depending on age by conducting the same analysis on a sample of adults and adolescents. The results indicate that there are substantial differences between the adult and juvenile samples, in terms of their drug use and criminal involvement.

Journal Article 2: Nuño, L. E., Herrera, V. M., Choate, D. E., & Koontz, M. (2018). Hispanic youth and illicit drug use: Assessing the relevance of risk and protective factors. Crime & Delinquency.

Abstract: Although rates of illicit drug use in the United States have remained stable within the last decade, the age-of-onset for drug use is decreasing for certain substances, and the United States still accounts for the highest rates of overall drug use. In a recent national sample, an estimated 19.8 million users ages 12 years and older were identified. Preventative efforts that target adolescents often neglect to consider differences among racial/ethnic groups. Applying the Social Development Model (SDM), the current study examines the likelihood of drug use among Hispanic youth. Self-reported data (n = 37,445) from a statewide, school-based sample collected in 2008 are used. Results suggest that the SDM is a promising framework for assessing Hispanic youths’ likelihood of engaging in illicit drug use.