PEER NETWORKS, STRUCTURAL STRAIN, AND INSTITUTIONAL DISENGAGEMENT: A MULTI-THEORETICAL FIELD ANALYSIS OF JUVENILE DRUG ADDICTION AND DELINQUENCY IN URBAN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Although the social impact of juvenile drug addiction and/or delinquency on society is visible, the problem is under-documented, and this is particularly true in the context of Pakistan. The aim of this study is to present the results of a structured field survey of 26 respondents who were juvenile substance users and delinquents in Faisalabad, examining the demographic, familial, peer, educational and behavioral correlates of such behaviors. The study reveals that 96.2% of the respondents reported having used drugs or alcohol, with more than half (57.7%) reporting having engaged in delinquent behavior prior to age 15, and 92.3% embedded in peer networks that engaged in risky or illegal behavior. Disengagement from school was clearly evident, with half of the respondents having withdrawn from school and 65.4% having received punishments and/or suspension. Alongside high levels of nominal supervision, there was also a substantial amount of reported conflict within families, making any simple interpretation of parental supervision as a protective factor difficult. Though these signs are alarming, 69.2% of respondents believed in their ability to change, suggesting that the gap is one of services rather than motivation. Seven complementary criminological and developmental theories (Social Learning Theory, Social Control Theory, Strain Theory, General Strain Theory, Differential Association Theory, Ecological Systems Theory, and Psychosocial Development Theory) are used to interpret the findings, suggesting that the delinquency found in this sample results from a failure of protective systems rather than a failure of individuals. The study concludes with policy recommendations for prevention and rehabilitation in relation to implementation of the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 in Pakistan, and recommends a larger, stratified replication to obtain nationally representative estimates.