The relationship between youth drug use and crime has been established but is complicated by the fact that youth are risk takers and experimenters by nature, and will sometimes engage in behaviors that are illegal. From a developmental perspective, adolescence is a major transitional phase that is defined by significant physical development coupled with increases in aggressive behavior, increased conflicts with parents and other authority figures, and an orientation away from family and toward peers and experimentation. Recent brain research strongly suggests that youth simply do not have the same capabilities as adults for impulse control, prioritization, and planning. They are still developing members of families and the community. Experimentation of all sorts is common, including the use of illicit substances, and does not necessarily portend later problems since many adolescents progress through this period and into adulthood without additional significant troubles.
Most substances are illegal for youth and use is subject to legal and judicial response.
One key challenge is to develop interventions that address unacceptable behavior before a youth becomes involved in the juvenile justice system. For youth that do enter the juvenile justice system, opportunities to provide comprehensive treatment and services for substance abusers and their families should be recognized. There are several points of potential intervention with youth. In a comprehensive system, the first point of intervention is prior to any involvement with the juvenile justice system. This requires the identification of high-risk youth by community institutions and the provision of services that prevent or minimize involvement with the justice system.