Drug Use and Delinquent Behavior of Small Town and Rural Youth

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between drug use and involvement in other types of delinquent activities among small town and rural youth. The findings presented here are based on responses to a self-report type questionnaire concerning delinquent acts administered to ninth through twelfth grade students at two high schools in Fremont County, Wyoming. The data indicate that there is a significant relationship between drug use and the commission of numerous other forms of delinquent behavior for both male and female students studied. In addition, the data lead to the conclusion that drug users tend to have poorer relationships with both their parents and the school than is the case with non-users.