DRUG ABUSE AND CRIME - FACT OR FANCY?

• NCJ Number: 49829
• Journal: Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1976) Pages: 131-147
• Author(s): R SHELLOW
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Legal Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE JUDICIARY OF THE U S SENATE, AUGUST 5, 1976

Annotation

CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF DRUG USE AND CRIME, THE IMPACT OF DRUG TREATMENT ON CRIMINALITY, AND THE MARKET BEHAVIOR OF DRUG CONSUMERS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

MUCH OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS PRESENTATION IS DRAWN FROM THE REPORT OF A PANEL ON DRUG USE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, COMPOSED OF 23 EXPERTS CALLED TOGETHER BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE TO ASSESS THE ADEQUACY OF OUR PRESENT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DRUG USE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND TO PROPOSE A DIRECTION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH. IT IS NOTED THAT RESEARCH HAS CONVINCINGLY SHOWN A STATISTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRUG ABUSE AND CRIME, AND ALTHOUGH THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP IS YET TO BE ESTABLISHED, MANY STUDIES INDICATE THAT CRIMINAL PATTERNS PRECEDED DRUG USE. BELIEVING THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF A DRUG AND SPECIFIC CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS AN ELUSIVE RESEARCH ENDEAVOR, IT IS PROPOSED THAT RESEARCH EFFORTS BE DEVOTED TO DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF DRUG USE AT WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL WOULD FIND THE NEED TO ENGAGE IN CRIME AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME TO SUPPORT DRUG USE. IN MEASURING THE IMPACT OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS ON THE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OF DRUG ABUSERS, IT IS INDICATED THAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN A DROP IN CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT AMONG CLIENTS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR TREATMENT, ALTHOUGH LONGITUDINAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR TENDS TO SURFACE AFTER TREATMENT IS TERMINATED. IN EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF THE DYNAMICS OF THE DRUG MARKET ON DRUG USING BEHAVIOR, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE CENTRAL QUESTION IS HOW RISING PRICES AFFECT CONSUMPTION. IT IS ADVISED THAT RESEARCH MUST BE DONE IN THIS AREA IN ORDER TO SET LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY BASED ON ACCURATE DEMAND REDUCTION STRATEGIES. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESEARCH SUBJECTS AND METHODOLOGIES TO PROVIDE NEEDED DATA FOR ENLIGHTENED POLICIES IN THE APPROACH TO DRUG USE AND CRIME ARE OFFERED. EXTENSIVE FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)