NCJ Number
140984
Date Published
1991
Length
482 pages
Annotation
This statistical study examined how 64 male and 36 female German addicts obtained the money to support their drug habits.
Abstract
The sample population had recently undergone detoxification and responded to a detailed questionnaire exploring family background, drug of choice, and means of supporting the addiction. The results indicated that the majority had experienced problems in their early lives and that some subjects had even committed crimes before becoming addicted. More than 80 percent of the sample population named heroin as their drug of choice. Most drug addicts financed their habits through private funds (20 percent), prostitution (10 percent), and drug dealing (over 30 percent). Contrary to police expectations, only 31.7 percent of financial needs were met through thefts and robberies. In fact, serious property offenses made up only a small part of addict offenses (13,000 offenses out of the total 173,000 offenses that the addicts admitted to). Overall, the study estimates that 37 percent of all burglaries and about 20 percent of all German robberies are committed by addicts. The article concludes that, except for the rising age of German addicts, the results do not show significant changes to previous surveys. The questionnaire, statistical charts and graphs, and a bibliography are included.