NCJ Number
207118
Date Published
2004
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study presents trend data on property index crimes and methamphetamine use in Oregon in the 1990's and early 2000's and discusses the likelihood of a link between methamphetamine use and property crimes.
Abstract
Data are presented to show the rate of reported property index crimes (offenses known to police) in Oregon per 100,000 population. Statewide burglary arrest rates per 100,000 population were also obtained for various age groups for 1994-98. Data on methamphetamine use include admissions to substance abuse treatment programs in Oregon and Multnomah County, OR, for 1992-2001, in which the primary substance of abuse was amphetamine (95 percent of amphetamine abuse is believed to be due to methamphetamine). Other data on methamphetamine use include the percentage of arrestees who tested positive for methamphetamine in the Portland Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program (ADAM). Methamphetamine data also covered the number of deaths in Oregon in which methamphetamine was found in the blood of the deceased (1991-99). The data indicate that rates for both reported total and index crimes peaked in Oregon in 1995, followed by a gradual decrease. Reported property crime rates showed a transient decrease in 1996 followed by an increase in 1997. Several indicators of methamphetamine use in Oregon had a similar transient decrease in 1996. Although crime rates cannot be directly attributed to the use of specific drugs and methamphetamine use does not apparently produce the same need for cash as opiate dependence, its regional prevalence may have a greater impact on property crimes. Also, the psychopharmacological effects of extensive methamphetamine use may make the user less capable of sustaining income from regular employment. These issues require further research. 7 figures and 14 references