title: Behavioural and substance use problems in rural and urban delinquent youths.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine rates of behavioural and substance use problems in incarcerated young offenders and to explore rural and urban differences in the expression and severity of these problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed a sample of 68 confined male young offenders (63.3% rural and 35.3% urban), using the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) and the Youth Self-Report (YSR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on clinical cut-offs, data showed high rates of externalizing behavioural problems (75.4%) and substance use problems (95.7%). Urban delinquent youths showed higher rates of attention problems, delinquent behaviours, and externalizing behaviours than those in rural communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incarcerated young offenders show elevated rates of psychological problems that require treatment. Rural and urban differences in the rates of these problems may reflect differences in community service availability in these areas or in environmental influences on the development of child behavioural problems.
authors: School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales. elgarf@cardiff.ac.uk
authors: Frank J
authors: FJ
authors: Elgar
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Knight
authors: Graham J
authors: GJ
authors: Worrall
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011897:Random Allocation; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*