Drugs and Violence (From The Drugs-Crime Connection, P 105- 123, 1981, James A Inciardi, ed.)

• NCJ Number: 154385
• Author(s): D C McBride
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC. From the Sage Annual Review of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Volume 5.

Annotation

This paper examines the relationship between drug use and violence.

Abstract

Study methodology involved a review of the literature on the relationship between drug use and type of crime committed, an examination of the possible violence-inducive pharmacological effect of drugs, an evaluation of the role of violence in the daily life of drug abusers, and a current study on the relationship between type of drug used and violent crime. The latter study involved the collection of data on sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, as well as on drug-use histories and criminal behavior for a sample of 292 jail inmates in an east-central Florida county. The data and literature show that illicit-drug users are more likely to commit property crimes than crimes against persons; further, drug users are more likely to commit property crimes than are nondrug users; after the initiation of drug use, the user is likely to reduce violent crimes and increase the commission of property crimes. The majority of the most popular drugs of abuse are central-nervous- system depressants, and users seek these drugs to produce a sedated, euphoric effect. The literature, however, also suggests that some types of drugs, such as stimulants, amphetamines, and hallucinogens, can produce paranoia or distorted perceptions of reality that result in violent behavior. An examination of the literature that describes the daily life of the drug abuser suggests that the interactional context of the drug deal is likely to produce violence. The recent data on the relationship between type of drug used and type of crime showed that narcotics, cocaine, PCP, and inhalant users were overrepresented in crimes against persons compared to other types of drug users or nondrug users. These data may show a new trend of increased violence among narcotics users. Overall, the information and data suggest that violence is a part of drug abuse, from the marketing system to the street buy, and it is increasingly a part of the criminal behavior of the drug abuser. 2 tables and 55 references