BACKGROUND: International research indicates that there is a strong association between substance abuse and juvenile delinquency and the risk factors related to law infraction. In Brazil however, few studies have been carried out to investigate such relationships. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to conduct a review of the research that focuses on the topics of alcohol, drugs, and delinquency; verifying the relationship between psychoactive drug abuse and juvenile delinquency. METHODS: A review of scientific papers published from 1997 to 2007 selected on the basis of the keywords: adolescence, alcohol, illegal drugs, and delinquency. CONCLUSIONS: Studies indicate that the use of alcohol and illegal drugs among at-risk adolescents is high, and starts early when compared with non-risk adolescents; suggesting that the substance abuse is an important part of the at-risk delinquency problems.
Alcohol; illegal drugs; adolescence; at-risk youth; delinquency