Curious, bored and wanting to feel good: the drug use of detained young offenders

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Abstract
The drug use and related perceptions of 292 young offenders, 94% of those resident in the nine detention centres operated by the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Family and Community Services, were surveyed. The average age of the detainees was 16.3 years and 90.1% were male. Illicit drug use had commenced about 2 years after the use of non-medicinal, but licit substances, and nearly 25% had used drugs from nine or more drug groupings. Alcohol (94.8%), analgesics (94.5%) and nicotine (92.4%) were the drugs most used, with 86.6% having used cannabis, 53.3% stimulants, 48.5% inhalants, 40.5% hallucinogens and 25.8% narcotics. The major reasons given for use were: wanting to feel good, curiosity and boredom. Familial drug use was common and heroin was perceived as the drug most dangerous to both body and mind. The results are discussed and suggestions made regarding appropriate services for adolescents, as most surveyed did not or would not use those which exist.

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