Differences in Criminal Activity Between Heroin Abusers and Subjects Without Psychiatric Disorders—Analysis of 578 Detainees in Bilbao, Spain

Abstract

The association between drug abuse and criminal activity has been deeply established, but the nature of this relationship is controversial. The incidence and types of criminal activity were analyzed in 837 arrests of 578 subjects who were also interviewed for psychiatric diagnosis and evaluation of criminal responsibility. There was a significant prevalence of heroin abuse/dependence (50.5 %) in the sample. Another 124 subjects (21.5 %) in whom no psychiatric disorder could be observed were considered as the control group. Heroin abusers were younger (26 years, SD 5.9) than controls (29 years, SD 11.2) and showed some different ethnic characteristics. Heroin abuse/dependence was the most important risk factor (O.R. = 10.15) for criminal recidivism. Females were more related to nonviolent criminal activity than males. There was a higher incidence of offenses against property among heroin abusers (burglary 57.8%; robbery 19.5%) than in the control group (burglary 15.3% robbery 4.8%). In contrast, aggression or resistance to police authorities and nonfatal offenses against persons were more frequent among controls (12% and 13.7%, respectively) than among heroin abusers (3.7% and 3%, respectively). The results of this study confirm the hypothesis of a relationship between criminal activity and heroin abuse/dependence, probably based on financial needs. However, the association seems not to be a single and direct cause-effect relationship, as other factors show influence on the criminal activity.

Substance Use Risk Indicators and Offending Patterns Among Local Jail Inmates

“…In the current study, greater substance use risk was representative of a minimum of one severe substance use disorder, injection drug use, and drug use within the week prior to jail admission. These three factors are consistent with frequent and heavy drug use, which prior research has clearly shown to correspond to heightened involvement in acquisitive crimes, serving primarily as income-generating activities (Cross et al, 2001; Hayhurst et al, 2017; Morentin, Callado, & Meana, 1998; Skjӕrvø, Skurtveit, Clausen, & Bukten, 2017; van der Zanden, Dijkgraaf, Blanken, van Ree, & van den Brink, 2007). Injection drug use garners special attention, primarily because this practice typically involves the administration of heroin, or a combination of several drugs, but also because users who report injecting drugs have explicitly indicated they would forego illegal income generation if they were not acting to purchase drugs (DeBeck et al, 2007).…”

Drugs of abuse and the elicitation of human aggressive behavior

“…However, the authors also suggest that the level of aggressiveness demonstrated by the methadone patients seemed to be related more to personality traits than to drug effects. Moreover, a recent study conducted in Spain (Morentin, Callado, & Meana, 1998), which consisted of a review of the files of 578 recently arrested individuals, concluded that among those arrestees who were heroin abusers, aggression or resistance to police authorities and nonfatal violent offenses against persons were less frequent (3.7% and 3%, respectively) than among those arrestees for whom there was no drug or psychiatric diagnosis (12% and 13.7%, respectively). Obviously there is some inconsistency in the literature.…”

Heroin treatment demand in South Africa: trends from two large metropolitan sites (January 1997–December 2003)

“…Heroin use is also associated with a number of adverse social consequences. World-wide, the illicit use of opiates is considered to be a contributory factor in property crime and crimes of violence [8], with the US Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Project reporting that more than 10% of male arrestees in eight of the 27 ADAM sites tested positive for recent opiate use in 2000 [9].…”