Drugs and Crime: A Survey and Analysis of the Literature

• NCJ Number: 159074
• Author(s): R P Gandossy; J R Williams; J Cohen; H J Harwood
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 187 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-NI-AX-0018
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: RTI International
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The purpose of this literature review is to explore the voluminous and sometimes complex research on the drug-crime problem; the review focuses primarily on the relationship between heroin use and crime, although other drugs are also considered.

Abstract

Five topical areas are covered by the literature review which are central to the drug-crime problem: (1) methodological issues and problems encountered by researchers; (2) drug use and criminal behavior patterns (factors that predispose one to drug use and crime, polydrug use patterns, and relationships between drug use and crime); (3) life cycle issues related to how drug use and crime patterns change over time; (4) economic issues and factors that affect and mediate the drug addict's income- generating activity; and (5) treatment intervention strategies and their impact on criminal behavior. References and tables