3: SUBSTANCE USE AMONG YOUTH PROBATIONERS: COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SINGAPORE

Within the field of forensic psychology, an extensive body of research has been dedicated to the investigation of substance use behaviours of youth in the United States. Although this body of work has contributed to much of our understanding of the impact of youth substance use, research examining youth substance use behaviours and outcomes within its specific socio-legal landscape are vital to the development of effective policies and interventions. In this chapter, data from the Enhancing Positive Outcomes in Youth and the Community study and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health were analysed to systematically compare the substance use behaviours of youth probationers living in the United States and Singapore. Several crucial distinctions were revealed: Youth probationers in Singapore were less likely to have used drugs, developed drug dependency, and engaged in poly-substance use than their counterparts from the United States. In addition, whereas marijuana has consistently been cited as the potential gateway substance for further illicit drug use in the United States, tobacco was revealed to be the likely gateway substance that Singapore youth probationers experiment with before using illicit drugs. Similarities were also found: among youth probationers living in the United States and Singapore, earlier onsets of substance use were associated with greater drug dependency and poly-substance use. Implications for substance use research and interventions are discussed.