NCJ Number
63954
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 7 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 577-589
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A REVIEW OF CURRENT RESEARCH ON DRUG USERS DOES NOT REVEAL ANY CONCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CRIMINAL PATTERNS AND HEROIN ADDICTION.
Abstract
SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, STUDIES HAVE TRIED TO FIND A CONNECTION BETWEEN DRUG ADDICTION AND CRIME. SEVERAL SURVEYS HAVE SHOWN THAT MOST DRUG ADDICTS WERE INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO HEROIN USE, BUT THAT ADDICTION DOES INCREASE THE INTENSITY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. CURRENT RESEARCH HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE WHETHER OR NOT CRIMINALS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NONCRIMINALS TO BECOME ADDICTS. MUCH OF THE LITERATURE CONTENDS THAT HEROIN ADDICTS RARELY COMMIT VIOLENT CRIME, BUT CONCENTRATE ON BURGLARIES AND ROBBERIES TO GENERATE INCOME. HOWEVER, THE VARIED ADDICTION AND CRIME PATTERNS AMONG COMMUNITIES DISPUTE THIS THEORY. THE IMPACT OF METHADONE MAINTENANCE ON CRIMINALITY HAS BEEN WIDELY DEBATED, ALTHOUGH MANY RESEARCHERS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT DOES REDUCE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AMONG NARCOTIC ADDICTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE ENTERED THE PROGRAM VOLUNTARILY. CRITICS CLAIM THAT METHADONE'S EFFECTIVENESS OVER THE LONG TERM IS DOUBTFUL BECAUSE IT HAS NO INFLUENCE ON PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED PATTERNS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. SEVERAL METHODOLOGICAL FLAWS IN STUDIES SUPPORTING METHADONE TREATMENT HAVE ALSO BEEN DISCOVERED. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (MJM)