Crime and substance use are very closely related. There have been numerous studies that have associated substance use with crime and violence for different reasons. A study was conducted that involved two groups of people, one group that had not committed any serious crimes and another one that was repeat offenders. It was found that the repeat offenders were 11 times more likely to be chronic users of heroin.
However, we are going to focus on the youth of this country. A study was conducted in 1998 that observed 3,382 adolescents. These youths had been treated for substance use in treatment centers from 1993 to 1995. The findings of this study were that most of these kids had reported that most of them had used cannabis and alcohol regularly. These kids were reported to have committed more crimes and had more problems with the justice system. Other studies were observing kids who had some really bad behavioral disorders.
These kids were said to struggle with substance use disorders, which usually ended up being cannabis. In 1999, scientists reviewed the cases of kids who were on probation. The scientists found that 37% of the kids that were on probation had a disclosed substance use history with substances such as inhalants. Substances affect our brains in such a way that they can cause a person to do things that they would never ordinarily do to get the drugs of choice. Whenever you throw mental illness into the mix, the numbers will rise. An addict will do anything that they have to obtain the means to get back to a state of normalcy for them. Another reason that kids would use is to self-medicate the symptoms of many psychoactive illnesses. The cycle just keeps going until these kids get the help that they need.
L. F. Lowenstein (2001) Recent Research into the Direct Relationship between Criminality and Substance Abuse, International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 9:4, 257-272, DOI: 10.
CliffordL. Broman. (2009) The Longitudinal Impact of Adolescent Drug Use on Socioeconomic Outcomes in Young Adulthood. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse 18:2, pages 131-143.