NCJ Number
54125
Journal
BRA (BROTTSFOREBYGANDE RADET) - APROPA Issue: 3 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1978) Pages: 41-43
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE TO DEVIANCE STILL ELUDES RESEARCHERS. IN THE ABSENCE OF DEFINITE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM USES TWO THEORIES OF ABUSE AND CRIME TO FORMULATE LAWS AND POLICY.
Abstract
THE TWO THEORIES ARE THE CLASSICAL THEORY, WHICH PRESUMES A DRUG-CRIME RELATIONSHIP AND HOPES TO PREVENT CRIME BY CLAMPING DOWN ON DRUG AVAILABILITY OR BY PROHIBITION, AND THE SYMPTOM THEORY, WHICH MAINTAINS THAT A PERSON'S TENDENCY TOWARD BOTH DRUG USE AND CRIMINALITY IS A FUNCTION OF HIS OR HER PERSONALITY AND DEPENDENT ON THAT PERSON'S SOCIAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL BACKGROUND. THE LEGAL RESULTS OF THESE THEORIES ARE VARIOUS FORMS OF DRUG REGULATION AND PROHIBITION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSERS AND OFFENDERS. SINCE NEITHER OF THESE APPROACHES HAS BEEN PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN EITHER PREVENTING ABUSE OR CRIMINALITY, NEITHER OF THE THEORIES CAN BE ASSUMED TO BE WHOLLY CORRECT. INSTEAD OF SPENDING MONEY ON DEVELOPING LAW ENFORCEMENT METHODS AND LEGISLATION AROUND THESE THEORIES, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON THE CAUSES OF THESE SYMPTOMS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER. RESEARCH SHOULD BE LONGITUDINAL AND FOLLOW A SAMPLE FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD TO EARLY ADULT YEARS AND SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE SMALL SPECIAL POPULATIONS WHOSE TENDENCY TO ABUSE DRUGS AND OFFEND IS LOW--WOMEN, RURAL RESIDENTS, AND INHABITANTS OF EASTERN COUNTRIES. --IN SWEDISH. (DAG)