NCJ Number
26355
Date Published
1971
Length
174 pages
Annotation
A PERSONALITY STUDY, BASED ON THAT STUDY OF OVER 2,500 YOUNG OFFENDERS IN GREAT BRITAIN, EXPLORING THE POSSIBLE CAUSED OF THE TENDENCY TOWARD DRUG ABUSE, AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH CRIME.
Abstract
AIDED BY A TEAM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTERS AND INTERVIEWERS, AND WITH ACCESS TO COURT MEDICAL REPORTS. THE AUTHOR HAS ASSEMBLED AND PRESENTS EVIDENCE ON THE SOCIAL SETTING OF DRUG ABUSE, ITS NATURAL HISTORY, ITS CONNECTION WITH SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND ADJUSTIMENT, AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TURN TO BOTH HARD AND SOFT DRUGS. THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY SUGGEST THAT, IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES, DELINQUENCY BEGINS BEFORE DRUG-TAKING, SO THERE IS NO OBVIOUS CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN THE TWO. ON THE QUESTION OF CANNABIS SMOKING, DR. COCKETT'S RESEARCHES SHOWED THAT 5 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO BEGAN THEIR DRUG-TAKING WITH CANNABIS PROGRESSED IN SOME MEASURE TO MULTI-DRUG USE. THIS FIGURE WOULD SUGGEST THAT CANNABIS SMOKING CONTRIBUTES TO THE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF DRUG USE HABITUATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)