Patterns of Drug Use and Their Relation to Improving Prediction of Patterns of Delinquency and Crime

• NCJ Number: 126405
• Author(s): L W Shannon; J L McKim; K R Anderson; W E Murph; R Pezanoski
• Date Published: April 2025
• Length: 210 pages
• Grant Number(s): 87-IJ-CX-0045
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Survey

Annotation

Although the numerous analyses presented seem to imply that drug and alcohol involvement are related to career continuity or at least to have been a catalyst for continuity, observation of the records of numerous serious career offenders from a 1955 cohort does not specify how it may have in some cases been the catalyst for continuity or greater continuity than that generated by other patterns of misbehavior and illegal activity.

Abstract

Beyond the statistical analyses presented, the records of those who have continuity and whose police contacts include problems with liquor and/or drugs were carefully inspected. In few cases does examination reveal that substance played the catalytic role that was suggested. 29 tables, bibliography, and appendix