Relationship Between Crime and Amphetamine Abuse: An Empirical Review of the Literature (From Contemporary Drug Problems, Volume 5, P 101-130, 1976)

• NCJ Number: 158941
• Author(s): S W Greenberg
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 30 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Pennsylvania Governor's Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

Studies show that two major population groups of amphetamine abusers tend to become involved in criminal activity: (1) individuals with substantial criminal histories prior to first amphetamine use; and (2) white, middle class youth whose amphetamine use is exploratory in nature.

Abstract

Amphetamine use is not highly concentrated among criminal groups. Among amphetamine users who commit crimes, crime types do not differ from those committed by users of other drugs. Comparisons between amphetamine and nondrug users are too sparse and contradictory to allow for any summary statement. Amphetamine use per se is not particularly related to violence. The outbreak of violence in association with amphetamine use must be approached from a multivariate perspective, including pharmacological effects of the drug, personality characteristics prior to amphetamine use, the structure of the situation in which drug use occurs, and the organization of the amphetamine distribution system. 54 notes