The relationship between drug possession/abuse and crime is the reason why there are uncontrollable drug-related crimes. The use of illicit drugs has impacted one’s brain negatively and causes people to make uncalled for decisions that could be violent. Drugs change the way people think and how they behave making such people more vulnerable to criminal activities. Drugs and crimes are related in there are many reported offenses of individuals committing crimes under the influence of drugs. Drug addiction causes offenders who are people from poor backgrounds and are forced to steal to get money to buy drugs.
In most cases, law offenders are people who have drug-related offenses (Stevens, Trace, & Bewley-Taylor, 2005) . Additionally, the majority of people in prisons are those that have addiction issues meaning that drugs the possession and use of drugs are a major contributor to the committed crimes. The more people use drugs the higher their chances to engage in criminal activities. There has always existed a relationship between drug addiction, poverty, and crime. Most law offenders who get involved in criminal activities such as stealing do so due to the lack of funds to fulfill their need of possessing drugs. Such people use any possible means to obtain the money that they could use to buy drugs.
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The excessive consumption of alcohol makes people to get involved in violent crimes (Murdoch & Ross, 1990, p.1065) . The relationship between drug possession and crime is linked to socio-economic and subcultural aspects. Young criminal offenders in correctional centers have been found to have a history of drug abuse, unlike the non-offenders. Most of the traffic crime offenders have been reported to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Drug abuse impairs the driver’s concentration and they fail to make sober decisions while on the road. It is therefore obvious that there is a relationship between drug abuse and the high rates of criminal activities. Additionally, drug abuse exposes more people to the risk of being victims of criminal activities.
There are money crimes that are mostly related to drug offenders. Robbery is a major crime that is influenced by drug abuse due to the offender’s urge to obtain money forcefully to buy drugs. The offenders steal from people to buy drugs. Research has it that homicide is a crime that is related to drug possession and abuse. Most of the homicide cases indicate a pre-existing relationship between drugs and the criminal offender. Drug traffickers kill each other when the deals go wrong. Drug-related murderers at times occur in the event of a robbery getting committed by a drug dealer for them to obtain money to buy drugs.
Assault is known to have a direct relationship with alcohol abuse. The verbal and physical attacks that come from alcohol users are a result of alcohol abuse. Alcohol contains dangerous substances that increase the levels of irritability and anger. Individuals who use alcohol are therefore more likely to engage in violence against another person. There is a reduction in impulse control when alcohol is consumed and this affects the intoxicated person. Child abuse and neglect occur mostly in people who abuse drugs. Most children who have undergone abuse from parents admit that the actions were influenced by drug and alcohol abuse (Boles & Miotto, 2003, p.155) .
The relationship between drug abuse and crime has made law enforcement authorities to treat drug offenses among the serious forms of offenses. The law has prohibited the use of drugs and its possession due to the negative impact that drugs have on society especially regarding the high levels of drug-related crimes. Drug possession is a serious criminal offense that could make one face up to ten years of jail term. Drug offenses carry harsh punishments and have long sentences. The simple possession of drugs is treated as an illegal activity by the law.
References
Boles, S. M., & Miotto, K. (2003). Substance abuse and violence: A review of the literature. Aggression and violent behavior , 8 (2), 155-174.
Murdoch, D., & Ross, D. (1990). Alcohol and crimes of violence: Present issues. International journal of the addictions , 25 (9), 1065-1081.
Stevens, A., Trace, M., & Bewley-Taylor, D. (2005). Reducing drug related crime: an overview of the global evidence. The Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme. Retrieved March , 10 , 2008.
