NCJ Number
53560
Date Published
1978
Length
23 pages
Annotation
HIGHLIGHTS OF RESEARCH AND GOVERNMENT STUDIES ARE CITED IN A DISCUSSION OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DRUG USE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND OF DRUG USER BEHAVIOR IN THE FACE OF MARKET MANIPULATION.
Abstract
IT IS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED WITHIN THE AVAILABLE LITERATURE THAT THERE IS AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DRUG USE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE DISAGREEMENT, HOWEVER, CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHP. THE ASSUMPTION UNDERLYING MANY NATIONAL DRUG AND CRIME POLICIES IS THAT DRUG USE IS A PRINCIPAL CAUSE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THERE ARE SOME, HOWEVER, WHO DOUBT THAT THE REDUCTION OF DRUG USE WILL HAVE THE EXPECTED IMPACT ON CRIME. WHILE SURVEYS OF ARRESTEES AND PRISONERS REVEAL A STRONG STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DRUG USE AND CRIME, AN ASSOCIATION BY ITSELF IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO INDICATE A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP. THERE ARE THREE CONFLICTING HYPOTHESES, AND SOME SUPPORT FOR EACH, IN THE DRUG LITERATURE: (1) DRUG USE LEADS TO CRIME; (2) INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME LEADS TO INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS; AND (3) BOTH CRIME AND DRUG USE ARE THE RESULTS OF OTHER FACTORS (E.G., SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND ECONOMIC INFLUENCES). THE MANIPULATION OF DRUG PRICES COMMONLY IS THOUGHT TO BE WITHIN THE REALM OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND FURTHER, THE INCREASES IN DRUG PRICES IS SEEN AS AN EFFICIENT POLICY INSTRUMENT FOR REDUCING DRUG USE. IN THE LONG RUN, IT IS JUDGED ALSO TO BE AN EFFICIENT POLICY INSTRUMENT FOR REDUCING CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE. ACCORDING TO A 1975 HITE PAPER ON DRUG ABUSE, AN INCREASE IN PRICE VIA SUCCESSFUL SUPPLY REDUCTION CAN MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF NEW USERS, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OLD USERS WHO ABANDON USE, AND DECREASE THE CONSUMPTION OF CURRENT USERS. HOWEVER THE PAPER WARNS THAT ONE ADVERSE EFFECT OF SUPPLY REDUCTION MAY BE AN INCREASE IN CRIME AS USERS ATTEMPT TO MEET THE RISING COST OF SCARCE, ILLEGAL DRUGS. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH REFERENCES. (KBL)