RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Engagement in drug trafficking may place a child or youth at risk for exposure to severe violence, drug abuse, and death. However, little is know about the nature of youth involvement in drug trafficking. The purpose of this study is to describe drug trafficking behaviour of delinquent youth and identify adverse experiences as potential predictors of trafficking. METHODS: Cross-sectional sample of youth (12-17 years of age) incarcerated in detention facilities for delinquent or criminal acts in São Paulo City, Brazil. Structured face-to-face interviews completed with 325 youth (289 boys, 36 girls). RESULTS: Approximately half of the boys and girls in this sample have had at least some role in drug trafficking prior to incarceration. Though youth who had engaged in drug trafficking activities did not differ on basic socio-demographic variables, they were more likely to have been exposed to a number of adverse experiences. Beyond heavy substance use, no longer attending school, gang involvement, witnessing violence, and easier access to guns, drugs and alcohol remained significantly related to trafficking involvement in the final regression model. Girls experienced a very similar pattern of adverse exposures as boys. CONCLUSION: Special efforts may be required for rehabilitation of youth who engage in drug trafficking. Potential targets may include keeping or re-engaging delinquent youth in school for longer periods of time and reducing youth exposure to violence in poor urban communities.
Asunto(s)
Control de Medicamentos y Narcóticos/legislación & jurisprudencia , Drogas Ilícitas , Delincuencia Juvenil/legislación & jurisprudencia , Delincuencia Juvenil/estadística & datos numéricos , Asunción de Riesgos , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/epidemiología , Población Urbana , Adolescente , Alcoholismo/epidemiología , Alcoholismo/rehabilitación , Brasil , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Armas de Fuego/estadística & datos numéricos , Jóvenes sin Hogar/legislación & jurisprudencia , Jóvenes sin Hogar/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Delincuencia Juvenil/rehabilitación , Masculino , Áreas de Pobreza , Factores de Riesgo , Factores Sexuales , Detección de Abuso de Sustancias/legislación & jurisprudencia , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/rehabilitación , Violencia/legislación & jurisprudencia , Violencia/prevención & control , Violencia/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
Children who spend part or all of their developmental years living on the streets constitute a vulnerable population. Local and national governments are in great need of research-based programs to supplement their efforts at providing health and social services. This article provides a review of what is known about children living on the street, describes a Sao Paulo program that works with this population, and makes suggestions for research that nurses might undertake.