Alcohol abuse among young offenders.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate alcohol use and abuse among young offenders.


METHODS
A questionnaire survey.


METHODS
Two centres in Adelaide used for the custodial care of young offenders.


METHODS
All consecutive admissions involving stays of more than 24 hours. All subjects were adjudicated delinquents. Usable questionnaires were obtained from 197 of the 207 subjects (95.2%) approached.


METHODS
The Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (AAIS).


RESULTS
Most respondents (72.1%) obtained AAIS scores that fell into the problem drinking range, with 24.4% scoring in the "alcoholic-like" drinker category. Comparison with a South Australian student sample indicated much higher rates of alcohol consumption among the young offenders. The majority (56.9%) had been drinking at the time of their last offence.


CONCLUSIONS
Offending and the use of alcohol by adolescents are closely linked. Young offenders are at an extremely high risk of alcohol abuse. It is recommended that greater treatment and prevention efforts be directed toward this group.
Putniņs
A L
AL
Psychological Service, Department for Family and Community Services, Adelaide, SA.
Harvey
S J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires