THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGE OF ONSET OF DRUG USE, DRUG DEPENDENCE, MENTAL DISORDERS, AND OFFENSE TYPE AND SEVERITY

This study examines the relationship between age of onset of drug use and later drug dependence, and that of age of onset of drug use and current offense type/severity. In addition, it investigates the relationship between mental disorders, drug dependence, and current offense type/severity. Data from years 2007 to 2010 of the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program II (ADAM II) were used. The analyses included cross tabulation and chi square. The results indicated that early onset marijuana users (those who began using at age fourteen or younger) were more likely to develop drug dependence than late onset users of marijuana. In addition, early onset users of heroin and of methamphetamine were more likely to develop drug dependence than late onset users of those drugs. No significant relationships were found between early onset of any of the four drugs and offense type; however significant relationships were found between early onset of marijuana and of methamphetamine, and offense severity. Significant relationships were found between offense severity and mental disorders, but not between offense type and mental disorders. Significant relationships were found for both offense type and severity when cross tabulated with mental disorders and drug dependence. These results indicate that more research is needed on these topics. This is because the findings of the current study partially support what has been found in existing literature. A clearer understanding of the topics of the current study is needed in order to draw definite conclusions