NCJ Number
35862
Journal
PHARMAKOPSYCHIATRIE NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMAKOLOGIE Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1971) Pages: 212-215
Date Published
1971
Length
4 pages
Annotation
CONSIDERATION OF THE WAY THE USE OF INTRAVENOUSLY INJECTED AMPHETAMINES HAS ALTERED THE PATTERN OF CRIMES AMONG OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE CRIMINALS IN SWEDEN WHO ABUSE CENTRAL STIMULANTS HAVE AS A GROUP THE SAME BACKGROUND AS THE CRIMINALS WHO ABUSE ALCOHOL, WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS. CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCES ARE FOUND, HOWEVER, WITH RESPECT TO THE KIND OF CRIMINALITY. THE PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF CENTRAL STIMULANT DRUGS SEEM TO CREATE THE BASIS FOR THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRIME. SINCE CENTRAL STIMULANTS FACILITATE CRIMES IN WHICH MANNERS, PERFORMANCE, AND ROLE-PLAYING ARE IMPORTANT, THE PASSING OF FALSE CHECKS IS THE MOST FREQUENT TYPE OF CRIME COMMITTED BY CRIMINALS USING STIMULANTS. CAR STEALING AND RECKLESS DRIVING ARE OTHER TYPICAL CRIMES, SEEMINGLY CAUSED BY A NEED FOR MORE VIVID AND FLUCTUATING PERCEPTIONS LINKED TO THE SPEEDING UP OF MENTAL PROCESSES. THE FACT THAT CENTRAL STIMULANTS, EVEN IN SMALL AMOUNTS, CREATE PARANOIC STATES IS OFTEN THE CAUSE OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE BY AMPHETAMINE ABUSERS.