Juvenile Drug Abuse in Thailand: Factors Related to Antisocial Behavior of Juveniles - คดียาเสพติดในเด็กและเยาวชนในประเทศไทย: ปัจจัยทีเกี่ยวข้องกับพฤติกรรมต่อต้านสังคมของเด็กและเยาวชน

Abstract

           The objective of this study was to assess juvenile drug abuse in Thailand with special emphasis on factors related to antisocial behavior of the juveniles. By using a structured questionnaire, data of 210 detained male juveniles at Bangkok Bann Metta Remand Center were collected. Descriptive statistics, oneway analysis of variance (one-way-ANOVA), multiple comparisons and multiple linear regressions respectively were applied to test the difference of means among 3 juvenile groups: drug criminals, rehabilitated patients, and other criminals. As for the results, one-way-ANOVA indicated that there was significant difference among groups (p<0.01); and multiple comparisons indicated that there was significant difference between rehabilitated group and other criminal group (p<0.05). It was also found that the coefficients of indicators of antisocial behavior with regard to long-term factors - background and impulsiveness had power to explain for 6.3%; while for the short-term factors - opportunity to be a victim (daily routines) and cognitive process including decision-making had power to explain for 20.5%.

Key words: juvenile drug abuse, antisocial behavior of juvenile