Statistical Association Between Drug Misuse and Crime: A Meta-Analysis

• NCJ Number: 223314
• Journal: Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2008 Pages: 107-118
• Author(s): Trevor Bennett; Katy Holloway; David Farrington
• Date Published: March 2008
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between drug use and criminal behavior across a number of studies through a systematic review of the literature and examines the strength of the relationship between drug use and crime and the extent to which it varies by moderating factors.

Abstract

Results of the meta-analysis of 30 studies show that the odds of offending are between 2.8 and 3.8 times greater for drug users than nondrug users. Therefore, the study not only confirms the previous evidence of an association between drug use and crime, but also provides a quantitative measure of the strength of the relationship. The results also show that the relationship is not the same for all drug types. The greatest odds of offending were highest among crack users (about 6 times greater), second highest among heroin users (about 3 time greater) and third highest among cocaine users (about 2.5 times greater). These results show that the strength of the drugs-crime connection varies by type of drugs used. These results suggest that there might be something to be gained if drug strategies focused on the types of drug use and types of crimes that were most strongly implicated in the drugs-crime connection, suggesting that priority be given to crack and heroin use in relation to drugs and shoplifting and prostitution in relation to crime. In addition, there is something to be gained by paying particular attention to those categories of drug users who have the greatest odds of offending. Meta-analysis has the potential to identify the existence of a relationship, as well as to quantify the strength of the relationship. It also, has the potential to identify variations in the strength of the relationship by type of drug use and type of crime and help determine whether other factors influence the strength of the connection. This paper presents the results of a meta-analysis conducted on recent studies that have reported on the association between drug use and crime. The primary aim of the research was to investigate the strength of the relationship and to assess variations in the relationship by type of drug and type of crime. Tables, references