Drinking Behavior of Delinquent Boys

Abstract

This study examined the drinking practices of 500 delinquent boys in the Massachusetts Youth Reception Center. Of the 500 (average age, 15 years), 28% were abstainers, 9% had used alcohol once (one-timers), and 63% were considered drinkers (2 or more experiences). Age was singificantly related to use: 83% of those aged 17 years and over, and 21% of those 12 and under, were drinkers. The 315 drinkers were evaluated on 4 drinking measures-frequency, effects, pathological behavior, and pathological attitudes. Age was significantly related to effects and pathological behavior, but not to frequency and pathological attitudes. Compared to data on male high-school students in certain areas with the same degree of urbanization, the incidence of use of alcohol is similar among the delinquent boys, but the frequency and occurrence of excessive drinking among the delinquent boys is from 2 to 3 times greater: of the 360 users, 71% had been "high," 58% had been drunk, 39% had been sick, and 23% had "passed out." A typology of drinkers was developed: 28% were abstainers; 9%, one-timers; 34% moderate social drinkers; 13%, heavy social drinkers; 9%, relief or kick drinkers; and 7%, pathological drinkers. Type of drinker correlated significantly with age, the older boys being more likely to be in the relief and pathological drinker groups than the younger: 13% of those aged 17 years and over, and 2% of those aged 13, were pathological drinkers. Type of drinker correlated significantly with race and previous court involvement, but was not significantly related to social class. Negroes had a lower rate of alcohol use and lower rates of relief and pathological drinking than Whites. Boys without previous formal offenses are least likely to be found in the heavy, relief or pathological drinker categories. A number of methodological as well as substantive issues were discussed. It is concluded that investigators in both the field of delinquency and alcohol research would benefit from further study of the drinking behavior of delinquent offenders.