Criminal behavior and the use of drugs has a direct relationship. However, the question is usually on whether criminal behavior results in drug use or if the opposite is true. The main argument is that the start of criminal behavior precedes the start or regular use of drugs. The argument is evident from the fact that most of the prisoners indicate that they use illicit drugs before committing an offense. The relationship between drug use and crime is often a complex one.
The Model on the Relationship between Drug Use and Crime
The model indicates that drug use results in crime because the drugs often affect the body and mind, thus resulting in criminal activities being undertaken. The model is supported by a tripartite framework that includes economic-compulsive explanations, drug-lifestyle or systematic explanations, and psychopharmacological explanations.
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According to the psychopharmacological account, the use of drugs concentrates on the way that the chemical properties that are found in the drugs act together with the human organism to result in specified behavioral outcomes. It is evident from the fact that when people take some specified drugs, then they often become impatient, irrational, irritable, and excitable which increases their likelihood of being involved in criminal activities. The psychopharmacological explanation shows that the link that is between crime and the use of drugs often concentrates on the connection that is between violent crime and alcohol as an acute intoxication by substances often results in violent behaviors. On the other hand, the psychopharmacological explanation claims that there are different ways in which psychopharmacological processes can result in crime after the drugs have been taken and notes that prolonged intoxication of a drug can also result in constant crime and aggression because of nutritional defects or sleep deprivation. Also, the link between violence and the use of drugs can be stated as being disinhibition where intoxication through the use of a psychoactive substance can result in subduing the internal restraints and at the same time can provide a free restriction to the socially suppressed criminal tendencies.
Apart from the psychopharmacological explanation that has no linking factors, some also note how illicit drugs use can indirectly result in crime. The argument is that there is often a link between crime and drugs which in this case can be affected by the characteristics of the person who is taking the drugs and also on the characteristics of the drug. The psychopharmacological connection that links the use of drugs and crime also indicates that crime can be as a result of the psychopharmacological effects of the use of drugs on the victim of crime plus the perpetrator. Even though the model has strong arguments, there is an argument against the theory when analyzing the tranquilizing drugs such as opiates, amphetamines, heroin, and marijuana as they can have the opposite effect on individuals. It has been established that in the moderate measure when the users are under the influence of these drugs, then the users can temporarily control their level of violence and aggression. Eventually, the effect of intoxication effects of many drugs still accounts for a small number of drug-related crimes of violence. It makes this model best in explaining the relationship between violence and alcohol as opposed to crime and drugs at a general level. It is evident that the psychopharmacological crimes are often driven by emotions, but the emotional aspects often come up with the economic issues that develop when the craving for drugs starts.
The economic model explanations often provide strong arguments that the use of drugs can result in crime especially as it relates to the use of habitual drugs. In this case, the user finds themselves engaging in a crime that includes prostitution and fraud so that they can fund their costly habit which they depend on (Aggarwal, 2015) . One of the commonest economic models that help in understanding the relationship is the enslavement model that describes how the addict can become enslaved and thus not able to control their use of drugs. At the same time, it also explains the inability of these individuals to support their habit through working a legitimate job even though some users hold the necessary skills needed to get the job. Eventually, they must commit the crime so that they can finance their drug habit. The risk of engaging in crime is even higher considering the fact that most of the criminals have to take different forms of drugs. For example, an the individual using opioid can in some cases also use amphetamines to maintain high activity levels that are needed to hustle for the required funds needed to pay for their opioid habit.
The economic need model is based on the assumption that drug users will aim at committing crimes to cover the costs of their drug use. For example, an intoxicated individual can opt to shoplift. Another example is seen among the street robberies who commit the crime so that they can get easy cash which they can then exchange with drugs instantly. However, it is worth noting that heroin users often avoid violent crimes n=because pf the threat of being imprisoned when caught and dangerous nature which can then force them to withdraw. Even though there is this assumption, the model does not intend to be deterministic. It is worth noting that in some instances, economic necessity or habitual drugs would result in crime. It is critical to note that individuals support their habit by committing a crime while others prefer to take a cheaper substitute. Others prefer the use of money that comes from family and friends as an alternative to funding their drug habit. In the broader social context, the habit by a user is often controlled by the rules of the underworld which result in the proclamation that the use of drugs results in crime because of the drug-lifestyle. The drug-lifestyle indicates that crime is the natural part of the broader drug-lifestyle for example, the system that is involved in the distribution of drugs is linked to violent crime (Lewis, 2010) . According to the systematic theory, engagement in the drug market activities leads to drug-related crime as a result of the interaction made on the illegal drug market. In other words, the use and distribution of drugs are linked to the commission of a crime; more specifically it results in violent crimes. For example, drug dealers automatically engage in crime because of dealing with illegal substances. Systematic crime is often linked to the distribution of drugs through organizational crime, third-party crime, and through transaction linked crime. Without drug trafficking and the use of illegal drugs then profits in this business would not be assured.
Crime results in Substance Use
Even though there are strong arguments that suggest that the use of drugs result in crime, in some cases the opposite is true. It means the deviant people have a higher likelihood of being involved in the use of drugs or can encourage the habit. It is true in cases where deviant people use drugs as a method of self-medicating or as a way of getting the excuse to be involved in criminal acts and commit deviant acts. The income that comes from criminal acts often help the offenders in purchasing drugs. The need to have drugs then encourages them to further engage themselves in criminal activities. It means that the arguments support and reinforce themselves in the sense that thru de of drugs can result in more crime.
Conclusion
From the information that is provided in this paper criminal behavior and the use of drugs have a direct relationship. According to the psychopharmacological account, i t is evident from the fact that when people take some specified drugs, then they often become impatient, irrational, irritable, and excitable which the increases their likelihood of being involved in criminal activities. These drugs encourage them to engage in criminal activities that they would otherwise not engage in if they were sober. The economic explanations often provide strong arguments that the use of drugs can result in crime especially as it relates to the use of habitual drugs. The economic need model is based on the assumption that drug users will aim at committing crimes to cover the costs of their drug use. According to the systematic theory, engagement in the drug market activities leads to drug-related crime as a result of the interaction made on the illegal drug market. It is worth observing that e ven though there are strong arguments that suggest that the use of drugs result in crime, in some cases the opposite is true. It means the deviant people have a higher likelihood of being involved in the use of drugs or can encourage the habit. It is true in cases where deviant people use drugs as a method of self-medicating to forget the crime that they have committed or as a way of getting the excuse to be involved in criminal acts and commit deviant acts.
References
Aggarwal, A., Et. Al. (2015). A Study of personality profile and criminal behavior in substance abusers. Industrial Psychiatry Journal 24(1) , 35–39.
Lewis, J. A. (2010). Substance abuse counseling.-4th ed. Brooks Cole.
