The Psychology Of Substance Abuse And Crime

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Because "drug use and criminality are very positively correlated," this paper will illustrate and explain the connection of these substances to why people commit crime. Drug and alcohol abuse and addiction contribute to the largest portion of all crime, and this correlation is the leading culprit to induce crime. (Goode, 2012)

Although there is a common knowledge of drug and alcohol abuse, drug and alcohol abuse or addiction contributes to the largest portion of all crime, and this correlation is the foremost culprit to induce crime. (Goode, 2012)

Changing the Perception of Substance Abuse and Crime

While programs have the potential to offer drug addicts and alcoholics alternatives to this type of lifestyle which leads to crime, society’s perception has to align to legislation for effective innovation to occur.

Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act

(SACPA)

As a recent article from the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act shows, "In November 2000 the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA), implemented an alternative permitting eligible offenders to receive probation with drug treatment instead of probation or incarceration.) (qtd. in "Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 48(8), 654").

Why SACPA Works

Indeed, drug rehabilitation works because the 70 percent of people who commit crime do not have the actus reus or mens rea to commit crime. The drug and alcohol abuse that leads to criminal acts is the culprit that inclined the offender to commit crime. SACPA has demonstrated through trial studies that sending addicts or alcoholics to prison does very little to rehabilitate the offender. Prison is intended for people that know they are committing the crime with intent to cause whatever harm they may cause. By removing the drug or alcohol addiction, through intervention programs gives the offender the opportunity to commit to change. It reduces the cost of incarceration and probation, while giving the offender the opportunity to reestablish their life, and become a productive citizen. (Gardiner, C. L., 2008).

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV) published by the American

Psychiatric Association (1994), "substance-related disorders" include disorders related to the taking of a drug of abuse (including alcohol), as well as disorders related to the side effects of a medication and to toxin exposure. The substances discussed in this section are grouped into eleven classes: alcohol; amphetamine or similarly acting sympathomimetic; caffeine; cannabis; cocaine; hallucinogens; inhalants; nicotine; opioids; phencyclidine (PCP) or similarly acting

Arylcyclohexylamines; and sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics( Musc.edu., 2012).

DSM-IV Criteria for Substance Dependence

A maladaptive pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same twelve-month period: Tolerance, as defined by either of the following: A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect. Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following: The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance ( Musc.edu., 2012).

Cost and Sense

By implementing a stronger legislation for drug and alcohol abuse, and enforcing the need for change in the abuser’s life creates a safer and healthier environment and society.

Drug Treatment a Viable Alternative to Incarceration

The solution to crime in 2012, with over 70 percent of criminals is drugs and alcohol related, forcing our society to see the correlation of people who commit crime and are substance abusers and not really criminals at heart will cause the necessary change required to benefit society as a whole.

Substance Abuse Intervention Works

In the online article Described in Journal of Criminal Justice, 37(2), 109. (2009), "The Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA), implemented statewide in California in July 2001, which mandates drug treatment rather than incarceration for certain nonviolent drug offenders." (Reynolds, G. (2009).

Collaborative Behavioral Management

Collaborative behavioral management among parolees: Drug use, crime and re-arrest in the "step'n out randomized trial" proved successful in diverting crime by drug and alcohol treatment.

Change in Attitude

Although it is difficult to prevent people who have abused drugs and alcohol to not become suspect to their old associations and addictions, the change in attitude towards responsibility and accountability have proven to make a difference in criminal activity.

The Offender Profile

Finally, criminal profiling is the process of using crime scene evidence to make inferences about potential suspects, including personality characteristics and psychopathology.

A. Offender Profiling Suggest that Substance Abuse Contributes to Criminal Behavior

For example, recent studies have found through an exploratory Internet survey of forensic psychologists and psychiatrists which was conducted to examine their experiences with and opinions about profiling and to determine whether referring to profiling as "criminal investigative analysis" had any impact on crime. Fewer than 25% believed that profiling was scientifically reliable or valid, and approximately 40% felt that criminal investigative analysis was scientifically reliable or valid." (qtd. in "International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 56(7), 1080" (2012)).

Substance Abusers are a Risk

If people use drugs and or alcohol, their reasoning and rationale are altered, thus causing deviant behavior which leads to criminal activity. This is a real threat to the safety and security of society.

This is Important Because We Can Change Profiles

Given the statistical analysis of drug and alcohol abuse as it relates to crime, a great opportunity exist for programs and legislation to intervene, making our streets and communities a safer place to live. Without drug and alcohol abuse, crime would diminish drastically in America.

Conclusion

Programs like the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, and recognizing the risk in people early on would reduce crime if implementation of intervention occurred before crimes occurred.

Legal medications and alcohol are not the true evil; however, only in moderation. Thus, it’s important that our society step in to implement programs and intervention of people at risk. With this knowledge of drug and alcohol abuse, being the largest percentage of criminal association, intervention and programs must be provided.