What types of crimes do substance abusers commit?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse classifies drug-related crimes into three categories: • Possession and/or sales. • Offenses related to drug abuse (like stealing money to purchase drugs). • Indirect offenses that result from living a lifestyle that increases the chances of engaging in illegal activity. This occurs because the abuser spends time with others who may have a greater chance of engaging in such activity. How many criminals engage(d) in substance abuse? In 1997, the Bureau of Justice statistics reported that 57% of Federal and 70% of State prisoners were regular users of drugs before being incarcerated. A 2002 survey found that 44% of men and 52% of women who were incarcerated at the time of the survey met the criteria for drug or alcohol dependence. Another survey conducted in 2000 reported that, among juvenile arrests, 56% of boys and 40% of girls tested positive for substances when they were arrested. How much does drug-related crime cost? A report from the National In
