Victimization of Dependent Drug Users: Findings from a European Study, UK

• NCJ Number: 220505
• Journal: European Journal of Criminology Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2007 Pages: 385-408
• Author(s): Alex Stevens; Daniele Berto; Ulrich Frick; Viktoria Kerschl; Tim McSweeney; Susanne Schaaf; Morena Tartari; Paul Turnbull; Barbara Trinkl; Ambros Uchtenhagen; Gabriele Waidner; Wolfgang Werdenich
• Date Published: October 2007
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Using data on 545 dependent drug users entering treatment in 4 European countries (England, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany), this study examined their criminal victimization and factors linked to it.

Abstract

This sample of dependent drug users was found to have experienced high levels of criminal victimization in the preceding year. Their victimization levels were much higher than those reported by respondents to general household victimization surveys. The drug users most vulnerable to victimization were women (especially sex workers), the homeless, recent offenders, and those with a history of poor mental health. More frequent drug use, a history of depression and anxiety, and recent offending were significantly associated with violent victimization. Only gender and a history of serious anxiety were significantly associated with property victimization. Patterns of associations among these variables were reasonably stable across the four countries. The priority given to mental health issues in the analyses suggests that this is an important area that deserves more research and treatment attention. The sample for this study came from a European study of quasi-compulsory treatment (QCT) of drug-dependent offenders. The four countries chosen for the study operated reasonably similar models of QCT, in that drug-dependent offenders had the opportunity to enter some form of drug treatment as an alternative to imprisonment. The study used an adapted version of the European Addiction Severity Index in face-to-face, confidential interviews. It yielded data on demographics, medical status, employment/support status, drug/alcohol use, family/social relationships, and psychiatric status. In order to collect information comparable to the largest victimization survey in Europe, researchers used questions adapted from those used in the British Crime Survey in order to determine their experiences of criminal victimization. 5 tables, 1 figure, and 68 references