Substance Abuse Flashcards
What is the definition of substance abuse?
Guppy, 2004
- recurrent substance use that results in failure to fulfil major role obligations
- recurrent use in risky situation
- recurrent substance-related legal problems
- continued use despite persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems
How are drugs present in culture?
Drugs are present in some form in nearly all cultures in the world.
Complex social and political arguments exist regarding legality and illegality.
Pharmacy versus Street.
Legalised (taxed) versus Illegal.
On average, how much is spent on tobacco in the UK every year?
In 2011, the total amount spent on tobacco ranges from £15 billion to £18 billion.
What five types of drugs are there?
- Stimulants
e. g. cocaine - Depressants
e. g. cannabis - Hallucinogens
e. g. LSD - Analgesics (relieve pain)
e. g. opium/heroin - Alcohol
When did the government classify drugs, and into what categories?
The government classified drugs in 1971, with the Misuse of Drugs Act.
This was into;
Class A
Class B
Class C
How do we measure the extent of drug use?
BCS and DoH research.
High level of drug use in offenders compared to the general population (self-report) 80%.
What are the four problems of drug misuse?
Addiction and dependence.
Health problems relating to injections.
Drug related deaths.
Economic and social issues.
(3% of people depend on cannabis)
(1565 deaths in 2002 due to drug misuse)
What is the difference between Drug Related Offences and Drug Related Crime?
Drug Related Offences
- importation, exportation, supply, offer to supply, intent, possession
- alcohol offences = inappropriate supply/consumption
Drug Related Crime
- not precisely defined
- crime caused by drug use (crimes to finance drug use, offences as part of drug market or supply)
What is the consequence of Drug Related Offences?
Possession:
- Class A = up to 7 years
- Class B = up to 5 years
- Class C = up to 2 years
Intent to supply and dealing
- Class A = up to life
- Class B & C = up to 14 years
ALL OF THE ABOVE INCLUDE AND/OR AN UNLIMITED FINE
What is the link between drugs and crime?
1) drugs might cause crime
2) crime might cause drug use
3) drug use and criminal behaviour may be caused by a third variable
4) drugs and crime not causally linked but co-exist
What is the Economic Necessity theory?
The theory states crime is committed in order to finance drug use.
What is the Hedonistic Pursuits theory?
The theory states that crime provides surplus funds that can be spent on leisure activities.
Is drug use therefore a statistical association to crime or a causal connection?
Statistical association.
This is because there is an association between crime and drug use, however we cannot determine whether drugs are correlated, determinants of crime or contributing factors.
What are White’s (1990) common connection models?
‘drug-use-causes-crime- model
‘crime-causes-drug-use- model
‘reciprocal’ model
- bi-directional
‘common-cause’ model
- common third variable
‘coincidence’ model
- no clear connection
How does the ‘drug use causes crime’ model, explain crime?
Psychopharacological explanations;
- cause direct effect (linked with violent drime due to neuro-chemical change)
- paired with external variable to cause an indirect effect (social/environmental)
Economical Explanations;
- income generating crime
- enslavement/economic necessity model (Goldstein 1985)
- addiction then crime
- links with property crime
Drug Lifestyle;
- systematic explanations, causal/non-causal
- drug lifestyles linked with violence (territory, assaults, robberies, informer eliminating, punishment)
(Reiss 1993 - systematic crime - arises out of drug markets and drug distribution networks)
- organisational crime
- transaction related crime
- 3rd party related crime
- secondary forms
