Maturing Out of Drug Use (and Deviance) - Hypotheses and Data (From Drug Use and Crime Report of the Panel on Drug Use and Criminal Behavior, P 205-211, 1976 - See NCJ-40293)

• NCJ Number: 70662
• Author(s): L D Savitz
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper, part of the appendix to a drug use and crime report, briefly examines five studies relating to how a significant number of drug users/addicts develop a conventional lifestyle and describes the maturation concept.

Abstract

The first major enunciation of the maturation hypothesis was that of Sheldon and Glueck in 1921-22, although it was flawed by major methodological shortcomings. Further studies identified the concept of maturing out of drug use and related that to use and cessation of drug use in a variety of test populations. However, these studies also suffered from small sample sizes, restricted data and variables, or inefficient data analysis. The maturation concept hypothesizes that a shift or change in a sizable number of drug users or addicts from drug use to cessation of drug use is brought on by voluntary motivation of the addict rather than by any treatment program, technique, or strategy. The change is associated with entry into a more conventional lifestyle involving better social relationships and greater legitimate economic productivity. Research into the maturation hypothesis varies in the definitions of abstinence, the voluntary nature of stopping drug use, and the impact of education and employment. The related idea that maturation eliminates the double problem of drug involvement and criminal behavior is not supported by available data, and the relationship appears more complicated than some researchers seem to believe. Nine references are included. For the full text of the drug use and crime report, see NCJ 40293.