Drugs Offences
The relationship between crime
and illegal drugs is a complex one, but for criminologists, politicians and policy-makers
the debate usually revolves around two key issues: to what extent does involvement
in criminal behaviour lead to illegal drug use? And what is the link between individuals
involved in drug use resorting to crime to fund their habit?
Research conducted in the USA and UK has found a link between drug-use and crime (especially property crime). Politicians, in particular, have been quick to use these findings as the basis and justification for various policy measures and initiatives. Although the research offers several explanations - including economical, psychological and sociological - for the link between drug use and crime, some academics have argued that it is
difficult to establish a sufficient causal
link between the two. In other words, although it appears that there is a link between the two, it is not possible to say that
drug-users commit crime because they take
drugs, nor is it possible to say that people take drugs because they are involved in criminal behaviour.
With this caveat in mind, there is
a wide range of statistics, research findings and publications on drugs and crime available on the internet.
The Drug Misuse Information Scotland website contains
extensive information, reports, statistics etc. on drug-related issues in Scotland. A report on drugs misuse in
Scotland,
from the 2006 Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey, is available from the Scottish
Government website; as is their drugs strategy, the Road to Recovery. Some basic information on drugs
offences is also available on the Home Office website.
The US Department of Justice provides statistics for
the US
as well as links to other websites. The Australian Institute of Criminology also has useful information on drugs offences in Australia.
The Centre holds a small number of books on drugs offences, details of which can be found
here.