title: Patterns of reasons for drug use among detained and adjudicated juveniles.
abstract: Self-reported reasons for drug use were examined among a sample of detained and adjudicated juveniles at a state residential facility. By means of a series of factor analyses, three common motives or reasons for using a variety of drugs were identified: (1) an expanded awareness-insight motive, (2) a drug effect motive, and (3) an increased activity motive. No relationship was found between type of offense and drug use. The overall findings suggest that drug use may be a means of coping with stress as well as a means of altering consciousness.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006213:Hallucinogens; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D009042:Motivation; D009294:Narcotics; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D009294:Narcotics