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(Prime Time Crime exclusive Aug 28, 2014)
Substance abuse
By
Eve
Substance Abuse at the Centre of Crime
Substance abuse in
its many forms has long been closely connected to both crime and the work
of the criminal justice system. Not only does substance abuse often lead
to the desperation or poor judgment that causes one to break the law, but
it also results in the overpopulation of America's prisons and jails with
citizens who ended up in a spiral of crime, in large part as result of
their addiction. Drug-related
murders are
not uncommon realities in major Canadian cities and most homicides are
either related to the dealings of the drug world or have a substance abuse
element to them. As such, ensuring that effective programs are in place to
address and decrease drug use, especially among the youth, are critical if
society aims to not only tackle the crime, once it has been perpetrated,
but also focus on prevention before lives are ruined or lost.
The Connection
Between Substance Abuse and Criminal Activity
Statistics in both
Canada and the United States strongly suggest that drug
abuse and criminal activity are
closely linked and this is especially true among young adults. For
instance, in the US 95% of all violent crimes committed on university
campuses are related to drug or alcohol abuse on the part of the
perpetrator, while 90% of all rapes among college students are also tied
to substance abuse. (1) Perhaps most indicative of the seriousness of this
problem is the fact that 80% of American inmates used drugs prior to their
arrest and 50% of all prisoners are considered to be clinically addicted,
even after their incarceration. In Canada, the connection between drug and
crime has been proved by a wide range of comprehensive studies, many of
which were undertaken by researchers at Statistics Canada. One such study
found that while cannabis-related offences have decreased, drug crimes in
British Columbia are more prevalent than in any other province, with just
over 600 drug offences reported for every 100,000 residents in Vancouver.
(2) This is almost exactly twice as high as the national average.
Homicides and Drug
Use
Both alcohol and drug
use are very common among those who are convicted of homicide. In the most
recent study, based on statistics from 2012, fully 75% of all Canadians
convicted of homicide had used either drugs or consumed excessive
quantities of alcohol. Among Canadian youth, this figure stood at a
staggering 92%. (3) This connection between serious crime and drug use has
become such a pressing concern, that in 2001, Parliament convened a
special Senate committee to explore this relationship. The Committee
looked at a key theory on crime and drug use, which is based on the
concept that the psycho-pharmacological effect of illicit substances on
the human psyche is what is the driving force behind this connection. (4)
Reducing Crime
Through Better Health Care
If the psycho-pharmacological component is key and if drug abuse is such an important factor behind crime, then it also follows that better and more accessible treatment options can play an important role in preventing criminal activity, as well as in decreasing recidivism among committed offenders. Over 23 million Americans need treatment for drug abuse each year and youth are especially at risk. Yet ensuring that treatment is both sought and that it is available remains a problem. In the US, over 20 million Americans struggle with substance abuse, but only 12% of them receive any treatment. With two million people languishing in American prisons and with over a quarter of them dealing with serious drug abuse issues, addressing this medical condition head-on is seen as essential. (5) Treatment, especially for the most serious drugs, such as heroin, often requires that patients be chemical-free for at least one week, before an effective regimen can begin. As such, police and correctional institutions have an important role to play even before those convicted or at-risk populations can get effective medical help. Yet ensuring that inmates receive drug treatment is essential in finally shutting the "revolving door" that characterizes so many jails that deal with rampant recidivism.
With the connection
between serious crime and drug use so apparent, addressing the root causes
of crime with effective medical treatment can go a long way in prevention
and in keeping the streets of Canadian cities safer. Civil society, public
health officials and civil society all have an important role to play.
References
(1) Alcohol,
Drugs and Crime,
National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence.
(2) Trends
in Police-Reported Drug Offences in Canada,
Statistics Canada.
(3) Homicides
in Canada, Alcohol and/or Drug Consumption,
Statistics Canada.
(4) Illegal
Drug Use and Crime,
Parliament of Canada.
(5) How
Health Care Can Reduce Crime,
Forbes.
(6) Inmate
Drug Abuse Treatment Slows Prison's Revolving Door,
American Psychological Association.