(PS1-9) Caffeine, Substance Use, and Criminal Charges Among Detained Youth

Abstract Text: Caffeine use is associated with various physical and developmental consequences for adolescents, including academic problems, increased risk taking, and other substance use. Juvenile justice-involved youth are at especially increased risk for poor outcomes, including school dropout, risky behavior, and substance use. Though there is limited evidence that caffeine consumption among incarcerated adults is high, research has yet to consider rates of caffeine use and frequency of consumption in juvenile justice-involved youth. The present study aims to fill this gap in the literature by providing descriptive data on caffeine use within an incarcerated sample. The present study also tested associations between daily average caffeine consumption, past 30-day substance use, and criminal charges.

Two hundred fifty-three adolescents (Mage=15.18, SD=1.54; 81.40% male) detained in two juvenile detention facilities in the Midwest United States participated. Youth self-reported their lifetime use of caffeinated beverages (i.e., energy drinks, soda, and coffee), the average number of caffeinated beverages they drink daily, and how recently they last consumed caffeine. Participants also reported on lifetime and past 30-day substance use (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, vaping, and prescription drug abuse). Information about adolescents’ charges was provided by each facility.

Youth reported high rates of lifetime use of energy drinks (83.0%), coffee (90.6%), and soda (98.3%). Most participants endorsed past month use of energy drinks (53.8%), coffee (56.8%), and soda (87.9%). The average number of energy drinks (M=.83, SD=1.28) and coffee (M=.83, SD=1.15) consumed daily was less than soda (M=2.12, SD=2.32). Most youth endorsed lifetime use of alcohol (63.2%), cannabis (70.5%), and vaporizers or e-cigarettes (66.4%). However, fewer participants endorsed lifetime use of traditional tobacco (39.7%) and use of prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes (19.9%). Youth charges include drug-related offenses, sexually based offenses, theft, disorderly conduct, violent offenses, and arson. Daily energy drink consumption was positively associated with past 30-day tobacco (r=.154, p=.033), alcohol (r=.257, p<.001), and vaporizer and e-cigarette use (r=.259, p<.001). The average number of coffee beverages consumed daily was positively associated with past 30-day use for tobacco (r=.184, p=.007), alcohol (r=.199, p=.004), marijuana (r=.237, p<.001), vaporizer and e-cigarette (r=.163, p=.018), and nonmedical prescription drug use (r=.162, p=.018). Average daily soda consumption was positively associated with tobacco (r=.147, p=.027), alcohol (r=.166, p=.012), marijuana (r=.261, p<.001), and vaporizer and e-cigarette use (r=.226, p<.001). Average daily use of energy drinks, coffee, and soda was not associated with any specific charges. Findings suggest high rates of caffeine use among detained youth. Further, caffeine use was associated with other substance use but did not appear to be related to specific types of charges among juvenile justice-involved youth.