Trauma, Delinquency, and Substance Use: Co-Occurring Problems for Adolescent Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

Girls in the juvenile justice system are known to have high rates of co-occurring childhood abuse, trauma, and substance abuse. Girls with this constellation of problems are at high risk for serious adverse outcomes, including problems with drug dependence and abuse. The relationship among childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, other types of childhood trauma, and rates of substance use during adolescence were examined for girls in the juvenile justice system. As expected, childhood sexual abuse was significantly related to girls' substance use during adolescence. In contrast to prior research, no link was found between physical abuse, lifetime trauma, and substance use. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• delinquency
• females
• substance use
• treatment

View correction statement:

Corrigendum

Acknowledgments

Support for this work was provided by grant R01 MH054257, NIMH, U.S. PHS. Additional support for the writing of this report was provided by the following grants: K23 MH070684, NIMH, U.S. PHS, and ROl DA024672, P30 DA023920, and KDA021603, NIDA, U.S. PHS.

Notes

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.