Increased Use of Cocaine in the White Teenage Community

The University of Michigan recently produced a study that disclosed that over the last seven years, the county has experienced a 24% decline in illicit drug use. There were two limited exceptions. The most startling of which was the use of cocaine by young Caucasians. Specifically, it was found that young whites are four times more likely to use cocaine than their black counterparts. In 2006, the ratio of whites admitted to drug rehabilitation for cocaine or crack addiction was approximately ten times greater than black admissions. It gets worse. According to the study, white teenagers fail to see the serious risks association with cocaine experimentation, which by necessary implications, may have the potential of increasing use even further.

The next question is how will the government approach this troubling information? Will it spike the penalties for teenage-cocaine-related crimes as it has done in the past for similar adult activity? Or, will it structure mechanisms in the criminal justice system that will educate and rehabilitate these misguided youths?

New Jersey seems to be focusing its energy and attention on education and rehabilitation through its hugely successful Drug Court which allows drug addicted criminal to participate in an intensively supervised period of probation without prospects of incarceration.

For more information on New Jersey’s Drug Court system, you should check out the Library Section of my website (www.ftlucianolaw.com), where I expect to post an informative article on the subject in the next 30 days.