NCJ Number
83057
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1980) Pages: 461-473
Date Published
1982
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The state of research findings on drug use and crime is summarized, and some recent work that offers more promise for research in this area is described, along with some suggestions for further theoretical research bases.
Abstract
Generally, research that has examined drugs and crime has been associated with the following hypotheses: (1) addicts are primarily from a criminal element, and addition is just a later phase in their criminal careers; (2) addicts prey on society, and the drugs predispose them to serious crime; (3) addicts are essentially lawabiding but are forced to steal to support their habits; and (4) addicts are not criminals but are forced to associate with criminal elements because of the illicit drug distribution system. Results from studies testing these hypotheses have not been consistent, so valid generalizations are not possible at this point. One reason for the lack of satisfying conclusions from the research thus far is that most of it has been essentially atheoretical. More recently, a few studies have been designed deliberately to examine the drug-crime association in the context of a theory; for example, the economist Goldman has theorized that drug consumption is similar to other types of consumption behavior, so that it makes sense to examine drug use and crime in the framework of consumer income. Howard Kaplan theorizes that a variety of deviant juvenile behaviors, including drug use, are attempts to restore self-esteem to levels above self-derogation. Some proposed theories that could be useful for research focus on the functions of drug-taking, resocialization as a means of treating drug abuse, and the effects of social change on drug use. A total of 33 notes are listed.