Abuse: any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child other than by accidental means by those responsible for the child’s care, custody, and control, except that discipline including spanking, administered in a reasonable manner, shall not be construed to be abuse.

Child: any person, regardless of physical or mental condition, under eighteen years of age.

Neglect: failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child, the proper or necessary support, education as required by law, nutrition or medical, surgical or any other care necessary for the child’s well-being.

Probable cause: available facts when viewed in the light of surrounding circumstances which would cause a reasonable person to believe a child was abused or neglected.

Preponderance of the evidence: that degree of evidence that is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it or evidence which as a whole shows the fact to be proved to be more probable than not.

Those responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child: those included but not limited to the parents or guardian of a child, other members of the child’s household, or those exercising supervision over a child for any part of a twenty-four hour day. Those responsible for the care, custody and control shall also include any adult who, based on relationship to the parents of the child, members of the child’s household or the family, has access to the child.

When anyone under age 21 drinks alcohol, we call it underage drinking. And underage drinking is against the law, except in special cases, such as when it is part of a religious ceremony. Underage drinking is also dangerous. It can harm the mind and body of a growing teen in ways many people don’t realize.

Missouri's Abuse and Lose It Law (Section 577.500 RSMo 1994) clearly states that anyone who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to any alcohol or drug related offense shall have his/her license revoked for one year. In other words, the judge must revoke the license of anyone found guilty of any drug or alcohol related offense and who is under twenty-one years of age.  Alcohol and drug related offenses include consumption of, sale of, or possession of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs.

Visit StopAlcoholAbuse.Gov for Federal resources that provide information on underage drinking and ideas for combating this issue.

Child Trends DataBank reports that illicit drug use is associated with many harmful behaviors, including risky sexual behavior and delinquency. 85% of those who have gone on to more severe drug usage, began with marijuana.  Illicit drug use is associated with short and long term physical health problems including abnormal heart rates, seizures, kidney failure, respiratory failure, and brain damage. Youth who use illicit drugs have higher death rates than non-using peers, due to increased risk of car accidents, suicide, homicide, and illness. Many mental health problems are linked to illicit substance abuse including depression, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, developmental lags, delusions, and mood disturbances.

The most common substances of abuse among teenagers involve alcohol, followed by tobacco, and then marijuana.

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) reports that current illicit drug use among youth ages 12-17 continues to decline. Peak years for drug use occurred in the mid 1990s. By 2002 the rate for use in the past month had dropped to 11.2 percent and in 2005 had dropped to 9.9 percent. 

Marijuana use in the past month has declined from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.8 percent. Alcohol use has declined with 16.5 percent reporting current use and 9.9 percent report binge drinking. These declines are more significant in that they occur after years of relatively unchanged rates.

The Surgeon General reports a fundamental shift from destructive perspectives in regards to substance abuse in previous generations towards healthier decisions in the current generation of youth. This trend began with the decline in tobacco use and then spread toward a shift and decline in illicit drug use. Now this trend is moving towards a corresponding decline in alcohol use among teenagers.   

African American students are less likely to use illicit drugs. Students whose parents are educated are less likely to use illicit drugs than students whose parents did not complete high school. Students who plan to complete college are less likely to use illegal drugs.

At Jackson County Family Court in 2006, 1,426 Detention Admissions occurred of which 50% tested positive for illegal drugs. This represents a 15% decline from 2005 when 65% tested positive and 75% who tested positive in 2001. 78% of the positives were for Marijuana. The closest other drug positive was for amphetamines at 10.6%.  

3043 drug tests were performed for probationers in 2006 with 11% testing positive. This represents a significant decline from 2001 when 28% tested positive. The residential programs conducted 1451 tests in 2006 with 6% testing positive. In 2005 only !5 tested positive.

McCune averaged 25 residents in substance abuse treatment per month while Hilltop averaged 10 residents per month receiving treatment.

Additional information about illegal drugs from the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Warning signs can draw parents’ attention to potential problems their children may have with alcohol and other drugs which require immediate intervention, especially if the changes are sudden or extreme. Parental concern should intensify if several of the following  warning signs occur at the same time:

• Mental Changes:
• Memory lapses
• Poor concentration
• Emotional Changes:
• Mood changes, flare-ups, irritability, and defensiveness
• Physical Changes:
• Low energy
• Bloodshot eyes
• Lack of coordination
• Slurred speech
• Behavioral Changes:
• School-related problems, poor attendance, low grades, recent disciplinary action.
• Rebellion from family rules
• Switching friends and reluctance for parents to meet new friends; moving from positive peer association to negative peers
• Poor appearance
• Lack of involvement  in constructive and pro-social interests

The primary action is to communicate with your children. Learn how alcohol and drug use can harm their mind, body, and emotions. Talk frequently with your child regarding what you expect of them should they be exposed to/offered illegal drugs. Become involved in your child’s activities and encourage them to participate in supervised groups and activities that challenge and are fun and drug free. Be a good role model. Teach your children to choose friends wisely and how to form positive relationships. Demand that children never ride with someone who has been drinking. Praise them for positive decisions they make.

The EQUIP Program is a three-part intervention method for working with antisocial or behavior disordered adolescents.  The EQUIP program combines the use of peer-helping group methods with cognitive development and skills training intended to motivate and teach youth to think and act responsibly. The approach includes training in moral judgment, anger management, correction of thinking errors, and prosocial skills. EQUIP’s basic components – mutual help and teaching – support each other. The EQUIP program stresses holding youth accountable for their behavior. It emphasizes the participant’s positive potential while recognizing their social skill deficiencies, social developmental delays, and cognitive distortions. The goal of the program is to “equip” youth with the necessary skills and resources for helping their peer group members and themselves through the process of developing a pro-social value system.

The EQUIP intervention model is used throughout Family Court Services.

Family Violence is defined as aggressive physical contact between relatives which may result in injury and/or emotional harm. 

Children who are raised in homes with excessive punishment or who witness physical abuse in their family are at risk of continuing that same behavoir in their relationships with others - as a child and as an adult. Children learn from observing their parents, the most important people in a young child's life.

Gangs are defined as an ongoing group or organization that:

• Is formal or informal, with three or more members
• Has a common identifier(s) such as the same name, colors, symbols, or other identifying characteristics; and
• Has criminal activities as one of its primary goals.

Visit the National Youth Gang Center for additional information about gangs.

Gang information from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.