Substance use prevention services in juvenile justice and behavioral health: results from a national survey

Health & Justice

Christy K. Scott¹  Rodney Funk¹  Hannah K. Knudsen²  Katherine S. Elkington³  John P. Bartkowski⁴  Jessica M. Sales⁵  Ellen H. Steele⁶  Larkin S. McReynolds⁷ 

[1] Chestnut Health Systems;College of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Science and Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky;Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute;Department of Sociology, University of Texas at San Antonio;Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University;Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University;Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Psychiatry/New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University;

关键词: National survey;    Substance use prevention;    Juvenile justice;    Community supervision;    Juvenile probation;    Community behavioral health providers;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40352-020-00114-6

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background This study examined the national availability of substance use prevention (SUP) within juvenile justice (JJ) and their primary behavioral health (BH) providers, and the relationships between the availability of SUP and agency-level measures of organizational structure, staffing, and youth characteristics. A three-stage national probability sampling process was used to select participants for a national survey that included, among other facets of community supervision (CS) and BH practices, questions on agency characteristics, youth characteristics, whether the agency/provider directly provided SUP services, and whether the agency/provider directly provided substance use and/or mental health treatment. This paper focuses on SUP services along with agency/provider and youth characteristics related to providing SUP. Results The response rate for both CS agencies (n = 195) and BH providers (n = 271) was 96%. Complex samples logistic regression initially examined univariate associations of each variable and identified candidates for a final multivariate model. Overall, only one-third of CS and BH providers reported offering SUP services, with BH providers being significantly more likely than CS agencies to provide SUP services. In addition, likelihood of SUP was significantly lower among agencies where the substance use distribution of the caseload was below the median. Controlling for master’s level staff and the substance use distribution, CS agencies were about 67% less likely to offer SUP when compared to BH providers. Conclusions Given the high rates of substance use among justice-involved youth and that substance use is an established risk for several negative behaviors, outcomes, and health conditions, these findings suggest that evidence-based prevention services should likely be expanded in justice settings, and perhaps included as part of CS programs, even when youth do not initially present with SU service needs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown