The Relationship Between Drugs and Crime
The Relationship between Drugs and Crime
Sandra Lynn Manela
CRJ308: Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Currie Gauvreau
January 21, 2012
The Relationship between Drugs and Crime There are two major factors facing the Criminal Justice system: crime and drugs. Crime has many faces and comes in all forms from petty theft to serial murders. Possession of illegal drugs is also against the law. If drugs are against the law to have in possession, it is also called a crime. Crimes do not have to involve drugs; however, the first thing that happens when a crime is committed, whether a murder, a wreck, or theft, is a thorough search for drugs to determine if drugs and the crime have a relationship. That is because there is so much crime centered on drugs. Although they are synonymous, it does not take one to have the other. Just because someone uses drugs, it does not mean that the individual will commit any other crime besides the one of possession. There are casual drug users just as there are casual alcohol drinkers. Drug use does not create a criminal offender; however, it may intensify such actions (The Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Crime in Idaho, 2010). One may smoke marijuana and never commit harsher crimes and never have a brush with the law. The main drug that young people will start with is marijuana. Marijuana possession is against the law, and because of the effects of marijuana on the brain of adolescents, which is still an ongoing study, the likelihood that they may use other drugs as they get older is a real possibility (NIDA, 2011). It could be called a “gateway” drug. It opens the door for these adolescents to meet others that are using harsher drugs. There are three ways that drugs can lead to criminal activity: (1) by affecting the user’s mental state, (2) the need for the addict to support their habit by committing a crime for money, and (3) the sale of illegal drugs (Drugs and Crime, 2011). The first two scenarios
Sandra Lynn Manela
CRJ308: Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Currie Gauvreau
January 21, 2012
The Relationship between Drugs and Crime There are two major factors facing the Criminal Justice system: crime and drugs. Crime has many faces and comes in all forms from petty theft to serial murders. Possession of illegal drugs is also against the law. If drugs are against the law to have in possession, it is also called a crime. Crimes do not have to involve drugs; however, the first thing that happens when a crime is committed, whether a murder, a wreck, or theft, is a thorough search for drugs to determine if drugs and the crime have a relationship. That is because there is so much crime centered on drugs. Although they are synonymous, it does not take one to have the other. Just because someone uses drugs, it does not mean that the individual will commit any other crime besides the one of possession. There are casual drug users just as there are casual alcohol drinkers. Drug use does not create a criminal offender; however, it may intensify such actions (The Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Crime in Idaho, 2010). One may smoke marijuana and never commit harsher crimes and never have a brush with the law. The main drug that young people will start with is marijuana. Marijuana possession is against the law, and because of the effects of marijuana on the brain of adolescents, which is still an ongoing study, the likelihood that they may use other drugs as they get older is a real possibility (NIDA, 2011). It could be called a “gateway” drug. It opens the door for these adolescents to meet others that are using harsher drugs. There are three ways that drugs can lead to criminal activity: (1) by affecting the user’s mental state, (2) the need for the addict to support their habit by committing a crime for money, and (3) the sale of illegal drugs (Drugs and Crime, 2011). The first two scenarios
References: Cont 'd than Prison: Or Is It? Retrieved January 23, 2012, from The Stanton People Addiction Website: http://www.peele.net/lib/court.html The Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Crime in Idaho. (2010, December). Retrieved February 4, 2012, from Idaho State Police Statistical Analysis Center: http://www.isp.idaho.gov/pgr/Research/documents/drugsandcrime.pdf U.S. Deptartment of Justice. (1998, April 28). Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved January 23, 2012, from http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/ac.pdf