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ETIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF DRUG ABUSE (FROM HANDBOOK ON DRUG ABUSE, 1979 BY ROBERT DUPONT AND AVRAM GOLDSTEIN - SEE NCJ-57805)

NCJ Number
57827
Author(s)
D N NURCO
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE PRECURSORS OF AND PROGRESSION TO NARCOTIC ADDICTION ARE EXPLORED, ALONG WITH INITIAL DRUG USE AND ITS RELATION TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
Abstract
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR MAY BE VIEWED AS THE END RESULT OF A CONTINUUM; IN MOST CASES, THE ADDICT MOVES FROM ALCOHOL TO ILLICIT DRUGS, TO NARCOTICS, AND FINALLY TO NARCOTIC ADDICTION. THE ADDICT WHO BEGINS WITH HEROIN IS THE EXCEPTION TO THIS PATTERN. PRECURSORS OF ADDICTION INCLUDE BOTH FAMILY SITUATIONS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS. FOR EXAMPLE, ADDICTS FREQUENTLY COME FROM HOMES WITH A DOMINANT, OVERPROTECTIVE MOTHER AND A DETACHED, UNINVOLVED, OR ABSENT FATHER. THE POTENTIAL ADDICT IS EASILY FRUSTRATED, AND DEALS WITH FRUSTRATIONS BY BECOMING AGGRESSIVE; INAPPROPRIATE RISK TAKING IS TYPICAL. THE PROGRESSION TO ADDICTION USUALLY BEGINS IN THE MID-TEENS, OR EVEN EARLIER, WITH INITIAL USE OF ALCOHOL. MARIJUANA OR INHALANTS ARE USUALLY THE FIRST ILLICIT DRUGS USED BEFORE MOVING TO ACTUAL NARCOTIC ADDICTION. ADDICTION IS MOST COMMON IN LARGE, INNER-CITY GHETTOES WHERE UNEMPLOYMENT IS COMMON. APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF NARCOTICS ADDICTS ARE UNEMPLOYED; OF THOSE WHO ARE WORKING, MOST ARE EMPLOYED IN THE MACHINE TRADES, CLERICAL, SALES, STRUCTURAL, AND SERVICE OCCUPATIONS. NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE DOCUMENTED THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NARCOTIC USE AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. FEW ADDICTS HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN THEIR HABITS WITHOUT RECOURSE TO ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. THE INTERESTING, UNRESOLVED QUESTION IS WHETHER CRIMINALITY PRIMARILY PRECEDES, ACCOMPANIES, OR FOLLOWS THE DRUG-TAKING BEHAVIOR; VARIOUS INVESTIGATIONS HAVE SUPPORTED ALL POSSIBILITIES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)