Illegal drugs and delinquency

Forensic Sci Int. 2013 Mar 10;226(1-3):230-4. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.01.031. Epub 2013 Feb 19.

Abstract

An interrelation between consumption of illegal drugs and committing an indictable offence has been repeatedly discussed in literature. In a retrospective study serum concentrations of illegal and legal drugs as well as data originating from police reports and examinations by physicians taking blood from individuals being suspected to be under the influence of drugs were evaluated. Results from 4816 cases were available. Property offences were the most frequent type (36%) as well as consumption of cannabinoids (55%). Psychophysiological conditions of consumers were compared with according serum concentrations. Close correlations between stimulating drugs and violence associated crime could not be found. Stimulated as well as sedated behaviour occurring following the consumption of various drugs might be the reason for no clear correlation between types of offence and consumed illegal or legal drugs in this study.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Crime / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Narcotics / blood*
  • Police
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Substance-Related Disorders / blood
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Narcotics