EXTANT DRUG/CRIME LITERATURE - METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES, PATTERNS OF DRUG USE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, LIFE CYCLES, ECONOMIC ISSUES, AND DRUG TREATMENT - A SURVEY AND ANALYSIS

• NCJ Number: 64870
• Author(s): R P GANDOSSY; J R WILLIAMS; J COHEN; H J HARWOOD
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 180 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-NI-AX-0018
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: RTI International
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOCUSING ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HEROIN USE AND CRIME, THIS LITERATURE REVIEW FOR POLICYMAKERS AND RESEARCHERS COVERS ENGLISH LANGUAGE MATERIAL AS WELL AS RELEVANT CANADIAN, AUSTRALIAN, AND EUROPEAN LITERATURE.

Abstract

METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESEARCHERS IN THE DRUG/CRIME AREA ARE DISCUSSED AND FOUND TO BE MOST SERIOUS IN THE AREA OF SAMPLE REPRESENTATIVENESS. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST NEED FOR MULTIPLE DATA SOURCES, GREATER USE OF CONTROL GROUPS, AND LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH ON POPULATIONS NOT PRESELECTED FOR DRUG USE OR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. PATTERNS OF DRUG USE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE EXAMINED; THE REVIEW COVERS THOSE FACTORS THAT ARE THOUGHT TO PREDISPOSE AN INDIVIDUAL TO DRUG USE AND CRIME, POLYDRUG USE PATTERNS, AND RELATIONSHIPS FOUND BETWEEN HEROIN AND CRIME (AND OTHER DRUGS AND CRIME). DISCUSSION ALSO FOCUSES ON HOW DRUG USE AND CRIME PATTERNS CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S LIFETIME (LIFE CYCLE ISSUES). THIS SECTION NOTES THE TENDENCIES TOWARD REMISSION, RELAPSE, AND MATURING OUT. THE ECONOMIC ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED, THE DISCUSSION EXAMINING THOSE FACTORS THAT AFFECT AND MEDIATE AN ADDICT'S INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITY. TWO FACETS OF THE DRUG/CRIME RELATIONSHIP ARE PRIMARY CONCERNS HERE: CONSUMER DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF LABOR. THESE FACETS ARE THE RESULT OF A NUMBER OF FACTORS SUCH AS COST OF OTHER NECESSITIES, THE PRICE OF HEROIN, DRUG SUBSTITUTION PATTERNS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES, AND THE ACCESSIBILITY AND EASE OF DRUG PURCHASE. FINALLY, TREATMENT INTERVENTION STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON CLIENT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE ADDRESSED WITH ATTENTION TO CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS, MULTIMODALITY EVALUATION, AND THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES. STATISTICAL DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)