Drug Use and Crime, Essay Example

Introduction

Drug use and crime are directly correlated to criminal mischief. Criminal behavior and drug abuse have been linked for an extended period of time. Criminal behavior due to drug abuse can range from driving under the influence of narcotics or alcohol to violent robberies or rapes. Nonetheless, the relationship between drug use and crime is difficult to establish. The question to be answered is whether or not drug or alcohol use leads to criminal behavior. Statistics supports the fact that not all drug and alcohol users go out and commit crimes, however, statistics support that a great deal of crimes that are committed are done so by people under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Likewise, research has suggested that there is strong correlation between drug use and criminal behavior. There are many reasons why this may be so. Drug and alcohol users often have a distorted perception of reality. For example, “The Justice Department says 80 percent of the people who commit crimes are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Many addicts will do just about anything to support their habit.” (Reuter, Peter. 2009)

Alcohol

One key factor of crimes is alcohol. Alcohol affects crimes in several ways. Some crimes are even defined in relation to alcohol use. According to statistics, 1 in every 5 person arrested by police is under the influence of alcohol. Likewise, over 60 percent of all homicides committed in the United States are done so by someone under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol also plays a role in 75 percent of all stabbings 70 percent of all beatings, and 50 percent of all domestic assaults. A third of all offenders have had a problem with alcohol in the past or currently have an issue with alcohol. Among prison users, alcohol dependence was 2 times higher among female offenders than in the general free population.

A study also shows that there is a correlation between incarcerations and alcohol use. Even while in prison, 25 percent of prisoners in the United States have tested positive for alcohol use. (Thoumi, Francisco 2003)

Drugs

The use of illegal drugs is considered a crime in the United States. Cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and amphetamines are drugs linked to violent behaviors .Violent crimes are often committed to support drug habits. For example, “Research on dependent opiate users have shown that the frequency of criminal behavior increases significantly during periods of dependence when compared to periods of abstinence.” (Zhang, Z. 2004) Drugs are related to crime because they affect the users personality. There is also a direct link between rapes, assaults, and other violent crimes with drug use. It is estimated that between 40 and 85 percent of all prostitutes are drug users. Both men and women prostitutes sell sex for money to support drug habits. Consequently, prostitutes are often the victim of violent crimes. Nonetheless, because of the kind of lives they live, prostitutes more than likely never support these crimes. Nearly 70 percent of all prostitutes have been victimized since they have been working the streets. Data collected from male arrestees in 2004 in 24 cities showed that the percentage testing positive for any drug ranged from 42 to 79 percent; in some instances more than half of the persons arrested were under the influence of some type of drug. (Zhang, Z. 2004)

Conclusion

An abundant amount of evidence supports the belief that drug users are more likely to commit crimes than non-drug users. This was supported by evidence that frequent arrests were under the influence of drug or alcohol at the time they committed the criminal behavior. Likewise, persons incarcerated are often under the influence of drugs and alcohol. There is an identifiable link between alcohol and drug use and criminal behavior.

References

Reuter, Peter. 2009. “Systemic Violence in Drug Markets.” Crime Law and Social Change 52:275–284

Thoumi, Francisco. 2003. Illegal Drugs, Economy, and Society in the Andes. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press

Zhang, Z. (2004). Drug and alcohol use and related matters among arrestees, 2003. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.