NCJ Number
50882
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 139-149
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A LITERATURE REVIEW OF DRUG ADDICTION AND CRIME, AND ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THEIR CORRELATION, IS PRESENTED. BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF SPECIFIC DRUGS AND DRUG GROUPS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FROM EXISTING STUDIES TO SUGGEST THAT DRUGS CAUSE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND CRIMES BY AMERICAN ADDICTS ARE USUALLY NONVIOLENT PROPERTY CRIMES TO OBTAIN FUNDS FOR DRUG SUPPLIES. A REPORT IN THE 1920'S BASED ON RECORDS OF ADDICTS IN THE BOSTON AREA CATEGORIZED ADDICTS INTO TWO GROUPS; CRIMINALS WHO HAD BECOME MORPHINISTS, AND LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WHO BECOME CRIMINALS THROUGH THE USE AND NEED FOR MORPHINE. LATER STUDIES SUPPORT THE THEORY THAT ADDICTS COMMIT CRIME IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE DRUG HABIT. IN ENGLAND, BECAUSE LEGAL PROVISION OF LOW-COST DRUGS ELIMINATES THE NEED TO CRIMINALLY SUPPORT A NARCOTIC HABIT, AND BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL IS NOT ESPECIALLY EXPOSED TO ADDICTION BECAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ILLICIT TRAFFIC, THE TWO GROUPS REMAIN VIRTUALLY SEPARATE. A MAJOR PROBLEM OF STATE PROGRAMS ON DRUG ABUSE IS HOW THE ADDICT IS PERCEIVED BY SOCIETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. IT IS MAINTAINED THAT REPRESSIVE MEASURES ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IN CRIME CONTROL OR DRUG RELATED CRIME. TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE FOLLOWING DRUGS AND DRUG-GROUPS IN RELATION TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE PRESENTED; ALCOHOL, AMPHETAMINES, BARBITURATES, OPIATES, COCAINE, MARIHUANA, HALLUCIONOGENS, AND VOLATILE INHALANTS. BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF DEALING WITH DRUG ABUSE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BE EXPLORED AND THAT SYSTEMS LIKE THE ONE IN BRITAIN BE EXAMINED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)