Aftercare Services for Drug-using Institutionalized Delinquents

Transition and aftercare services for drug involved delinquent youth are sorely needed. Rates of recidivism among delinquents and relapse among adolescent substance abusers are high. Further, since frequent drug use is more prevalent among juvenile offenders compared to nondelinquent populations, it is likely that relapse rates are even higher among delinquent populations. This article reviews existing literature on predictors of relapse to drug use and recidivism to delinquent involvement among adolescents to identify factors that may put them at high risk for return to drug use and delinquency. The implications for treatment are discussed and a model program based on addressing these factors is presented.