This paper presents the results of a study based on a sample of incarcerated women in Quebec prisons in 1989. The study focuses on drug use and abuse and its relation to crime with a special concern for age of onset, nature of conviction, previous involvement in criminal activities, motivation, and other related variables. The emerging profile of these subjects is one where drug- related problems predominate rather than a deep involvement in criminality. Within this population of women prisoners a strong link between drugs and crime is still difficult to establish. The researchers found that most of the results of this study have been supported in other studies with different measures and samples. The paper concludes that future research of this topic should rely more on qualitative analysis to gather a better understanding of the operating processes. References