Methadone Maintenance and the Development of Crime in Denmark, 1980-95 (From Kriminalistisk Institut Arbog 1995, P 25- 51, 1995, Lene Ravn, ed.)

• NCJ Number: 161947
• Author(s): F Balvig
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: Rosenborggade 17
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Country: Denmark
• Note: Institute of Criminology Series

Annotation

The percentage of hard drug addicts in Denmark who participate in methadone maintenance programs has increased from less than 10 percent to approximately 50 percent over the past decade.

Abstract

Several studies show that opiate maintenance, including methadone maintenance, reduces the amount of crime committed by hard drug users. Further, studies indicate that crime committed by hard drug users is considerable, particularly for burglary and forgery. The author notes that the increased use of methadone has reduced crime in Denmark. In particular, methadone maintenance appears to be a key factor in reducing the number of criminal offenses reported to the police between 1987 and 1995. Because of the effectiveness of methadone maintenance, a controlled experiment involving heroin maintenance is recommended. 41 references, 34 notes, and 6 figures