JAIBG Bulletin -- May 2000

*John J. Wilson, Acting Administrator*
	May 2000

From the Administrator

The link between juvenile substance abuse and delinquency is well established. Unfortunately, youth are beginning to use alcohol and drugs at younger ages and increasing their use as they grow older.

This OJJDP Bulletin provides an overview of substance testing, describes the major indicators of the need for such testing, and summarizes the research on recent trends in substance abuse. The consequences of juvenile substance abuse are considerable, including the social, emotional, and economic costs documented in this publication. The Bulletin also provides several examples of substance abuse testing within the juvenile justice system.

The authors recommend an approach more fully detailed in Ten Steps for Implementing a Program of Controlled Substance Abuse Testing of Juveniles, a companion Bulletin in the JAIBG Best Practices series. I commend both these Bulletins to your consideration.

John J. Wilson
Acting Administrator

Developing a Policy for Controlled Substance Testing of Juveniles

Ann H. Crowe and Linda Sydney

Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of OJJDP or the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime.
Acknowledgments
Ann H. Crowe and Linda Sydney are Research Associates at the American Probation and Parole Association.

NCJ 178896