NCJ Number
133510
Date Published
1989
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This document summarizes drug crime arrest statistics for the State of Alabama for the calendar year 1989.
Abstract
Drug abuse violations involve the illegal sale, possession, manufacture, use, and cultivation of narcotic and non-narcotic drugs. Illegal drugs are divided into four categories: (1) opium, cocaine, and their derivatives; (2) marijuana; (3) synthetic narcotics; and (4) dangerous non-narcotic drugs which include barbiturates and benzedrine. The substantial increase in drug arrests in 1989 over 1988 may not necessarily indicate a dramatic increase in drug crime itself. A possible contributing factor to this increase may be the more aggressive drug-control strategies now being incorporated by many police and sheriff's departments. A greater awareness of drug-related crime by law enforcement agencies may, in part, be responsible for an increase in drug arrests. The numbers for alcohol and/or drug-related homicides include only homicides where drug or alcohol use was clearly indicated. In some cases, drugs or alcohol may have been a contributing factor to a homicide, but were not indicated on the homicide report. Therefore, the incidents of drug or alcohol-related homicide may be somewhat greater than is indicated.