Analysis of the Relationship Between Drugs and Crime

This is relationship between drugs and crime essay in which I will evaluate the theories that have been developed to explain drug-crime connection. Throughout this essay, it will discuss and evaluate the theories that have been developed to explain the connection between drug use and crime. In particular, it will draw upon the main theories that have been linked to the drug and crime connection. 

Drug misuse is a term used to refer to the use of a drug for purposes in which it is not intended or using drugs in excessive quantities. Crime is an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government, which also is a violation of law. Reviewing empirical research of which examines the relationship between drug use and crime, there is an undeniable strong association between illicit drug use and criminal activity. Throughout many research reports this seems to be a consistent factor between the relationships. However, the relationship between drug use and criminal activity is seen as complex and dynamic, which is often associated with entrenched health and social problems such as ill mental health and unemployment. Raskin White and Gorman have stated that the complexity of the relationship further develops with the links being neither simple or linear and it is not universal across offending.

It has been argued by Goode that drug and crime are intimately related in the public mind and it is suggested that drug and crime are connected in a very specific way and whether a decriminalisation of a specific illicit drug would see a decline in crime rates.

The main issue that is reoccurring is that in many published literatures there is a tendency to over-draw and simplify the links between drug and crime. This statement is supported by the works of Makkai where it is stated that the argument on illicit drugs and crime is “ill-defined, simplistic and lacking in evidence”. This argument is also supported by the work of Raskin White and Gorman as they state that policy makers assume that an important connection between drugs and crime exist however, the precise connection remains elusive.

As previously stated the link between drug use and crime is complex as there is a variety of ways in which drug use and offending can vary with each individual due to factors such as ‘age’ , ‘gender’ or as to whether drug use or offending came first. There are currently five main hypotheses that are investigated by researchers relating to drug- crime connections;

Drug Use Causes crime

There is a number of research evidence that can be used in order to support the argument that drug use causes crime. An example of this is that in England between the years 1997 and 1999 a study found that over two-thirds of arrestees tested positive for at least one drug.

There is a number of ways in which it is theoretically possible for drug use to lead to crime. The most common and obvious effect is through the drugs psychoactive chemicals of which its properties can lead to certain forms of offending behavior most commonly violence. Drugs and alcohol can ultimately cause violence as the affects of them alters an individuals’ cognitive abilities and perceptions. Even though there is evidence of these links, the nature of this link is less direct as it is partly dependent on the characteristics of the individual.

In addition to the pharmacological explanations there is also economic and financial reasons for the link between drugs and crime. This argument is the most common in research literature as it is suggested that the drug user is unable to control their consumption and unable to fund their use through normal employment, and as a result they turn to crime in order to pay for their drug use. Over 78% of heroin and cocaine users believe that their drug use is linked to their offending.

Finally, there are lifestyle and systemic explanations, this links drug use and crime through wider contextual factors such as buying and selling drugs and the danger of this is through the problems associated with drug markets, where violence has been largely associated with the enforcement of drugs and drug debts.

Crime Causes Drug Use

Similarly, to above it is possible to identify chemical, economic and lifestyle variations in the form of explanations. Psychopharmacological approaches focus on the pleasure of drug use with the focus on the pleasure of being involved with such behavior. The alternative form of this is that offenders build up the courage to commit crime by using drugs. The economic form is based upon the assumption that the profits of crime is used to buy drugs, with funds that may have not been previously available has they not committed a crime. The systematic view included the suggestion of the addiction argument as to where the criminal lifestyle typically involves drug use.

A Common Cause

This idea that drug use leads to crime and vice versa is abandoned in order to favor arguments that there are alternative factors in which can explain both types of behavior. As previously explained, factors may take various forms including personality, temperament, aspects of an individuals’ social world and the social environment. Over recent years’ research evidence has been collected which focuses on ‘risk factors’ connected with problematic behaviors such as drug use and criminal activity. Many of the risk factors that are linked with criminal activity also linked with the increased likelihood of drug use.

A sociological view of ‘common cause’ is that drug use is part of a learnt lifestyle, in effect the behavior is learnt and passed through generations resulting in behavioral patterns being continued. A study published by Dunlap, et. al shows evidence of this as he states a moving account of how four generations of women led drug and crime fuelled lives.

A Reciprocal Relationship

This approach is very similar to the argument above however; the relationship goes in two directions rather than one. Essentially this means that drug use and criminality are considered to be causally interrelated “drug use might lead to offending and offending to drug use”. Neither relationship fully explains the other however they are bound together. For example, research conducted by Chaicken and Chaicken suggests that a high frequency of drug users are likely to be frequent offenders.

No Causal Relationship

This final theory is a variant on the hypotheses of ‘a common cause’ and ‘a reciprocal relationship’ which in essence rests on the idea that there is only a correlation between drug use and crime and not a causal connection.

In connection to this is the ‘policy and prohibition’ model which suggests that the main link between crime and drugs is that public policy makes certain forms of drug use criminal. However, in order to assess these claims is difficult as there is a number of conclusions that are possible. For example, the most robust links between drug use and crime involve street heroin users and the evidence in particular falls short of supporting the idea of a direct causal link between the two. There is also less evidence to support the theory that crime leads to drug use than there is for the thesis ‘drug use leads to crime’.

It is very problematic discussing causes, even though people who use illicit drugs are more likely to offend than those who don’t, there is no conclusive evidence to support a causal link. However, it is impossible to deny that the criminalisation of drug use creates a relationship between drugs and crime as Mcsweeney, et. al stated “a majority of those who steal to buy drugs were involved in crime before their drug use became a problem”.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a number of studies have referenced that the relationship between drugs and crime and its connection is complex. After researching the theoretical models which attempt to explain the relationship of the psychopharmacological link, the economic link and the systemic link, the main link which demonstrates the closest association with drug and crime is the drug users financial situation, however this still does not present a conclusive link between drug use and crime and criminal activity is also dependent on the involvement and considerations of economic, social and cultural circumstances it does not solely depend on drug use.

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