Drug Use And Crime Relationship. The highest risk of violence occurs when drugs and alcohol use takes place in combination. As stated during the introduction the relationship between drugs and crime is dynamic and complex. Drug abuse is implicated in at least three types of drug-related offenses. Everyone who uses drugs does not become addicted to them nor does everyone who uses drugs commit violent crimes.
Drug use and crime have a complicated and intricate relationship. The most common drug-related crime is drug use whether were talking about shooting meth or drinking past the legal limit using drugs or using them outside of their intended purpose is the most common drug-related crime. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has noted three main ways that drugs and crime are related. As noted by Parker and Newcombe 1987 p. And the relationship is either coincidental or explained by a set of common causes. This report summarized existing research on patterns of drug use and criminal behavior and the effects of drug treatment strategies on criminality setting the stage for NIJ to launch its Drug Use Forecasting DUF program in 1987.
It is therefore suggested that both classifications of drugs and the relationship between drug use and crime are products of local social contexts and environments.
After a decade of. The relationship between substance use and violence is apparent among a wide range of various populations and types of abuse ie violence in the community violent criminal recidivism etc. 1 offenses defined by drug possession or sales 2 offenses directly related to drug abuse eg stealing to get money for drugs and 3 offenses related to a lifestyle that predisposes the drug abuser to engage in illegal activity for example through association with other offenders or with illicit markets. Drug trafficking is another outcome of drug abuse 1. Cocaine heroin marijuana and amphetamines are examples of drugs classified to have abuse potential. Nevertheless drugs and crime are related to each other in at least three ways.