Prevention of drug-related crime report / : Prévention de la criminalité liée aux drogue

For example, in the United States, 60% of individuals arrested for most types of crime test positive for illegal drugs at the time of their arrest (National Association of Drug Court Professionals in The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, n. d.), despite drug users comprising a mere 9.2% of the American population (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014)1. [...] The adolescent brain is still in the developmental phase; consequently, the earlier the initiation to drugs, the greater the probability of developing drug addiction issues (UNODC, 5 For more information, see studies cited by Atkinson et al., 2009, p. 5. Prevention of drug-related crime / 17 2013). [...] Prevention of drug-related crime / 19 However, further research is required into the connection between risk and protective factors for drug use and delinquency: [Translation] Researchers have concluded that (a) the processes underlying the interaction of these various risk and protective factors remain unknown, and (b) in many cases, it is still unclear whether many of these factors are the cause [...] It also stresses the importance of implementing evidence-based strategies, and strengthening young people's commitment and intention not to take drugs, and notes that community-based initiatives (with families, via media campaigns, and in the community) and the use of peer leaders strengthen the effect of school- based initiatives11. [...] Although primarily employed in the public health sector, the approach also focuses in part on the prevention of crime committed either under the influence of drugs or to acquire drugs.