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Anomie, Perceived Opportunity and Drug Addiction: A Study of Some Correlates of Drug Addicted and Non-Addicted Offending Behavior

NCJ Number
163253
Author(s)
W. M. Atwell
Date Published
1977
Length
374 pages
Annotation
This doctoral dissertation, submitted to The George Washington University, compares drug addicted and non-addicted offending behavior.
Abstract
The sample for this study was 100 young adult (24 years and younger) black male client population enrolled in the program of the Offender Rehabilitation Division, Public Defender Service, Washington, DC. The paper contains six chapters: Introduction, including the psychological, sociological, and some theoretical approaches to the causes of drug addiction; Review of the Related Literature; Theoretical Framework; Methods of Research; Data and Analysis; and Summary and Conclusions. The study found that: (1) addicted and other type delinquents appeared to be more alike than different; (2) addicted delinquents were more likely than other type delinquents to view access to legitimate occupational opportunities as being difficult; (3) addicted delinquents had greater access to drugs and maintained more ties with other drug users; (4) addicted delinquents experienced more total previous arrests and committed more previous misdemeanors; (5) more other type delinquents showed a high level of anomie, but among addicted delinquents high on anomie, the majority were currently not taking drugs; (6) both types displayed high levels of self-esteem; and (7) the structural setting within which socialization occurs may be as significant as the process itself. Footnotes, tables, charts, figures, appendixes, bibliography