CRIME MAY RESULT FROM THE DIRECT PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE, OR INDIRECTLY AS AN ASSOCIATED ACTIVITY. POSSIBLE DIRECT PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS INCLUDE DRUG-INDUCED DISINHIBITION RESULTING IN IMPULSIVE ACTIONS, VIOLENCE CAUSED BY DRUG-RELATED PARANOIA, CRIMES OF NEGLIGENCE, AND DRUG USE AS A MEANS OF FORTIFICATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. ALCOHOL IS CLEARLY LINKED TO BOTH CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AND NEGLIGENCE; BARBITURATE USE IS ASSOCIATED FREQUENTLY WITH HOMICIDE. AMPHETAMINES, COCAINE, MARIJUANA, AND OPIATES, HOWEVER, DO NOT APPEAR TO BE CAUSATIVE FACTORS IN CRIME FROM THE PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS STANDPOINT. WITH REGARD TO CRIMES RESULTING FROM NONNARCOTIC DRUGS, AVAILABLE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE HYPOTHESIS THAT NONADDICTIVE DRUGS DO NOT PRECIPITATE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. EXCEPTIONS INCLUDE THOSE WHO BECOME HEAVILY INVOLVED IN SELLING DRUGS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR OWN DRUG USE. STUDIES EMPHASIZING NARCOTIC USE, HOWEVER, PRESENT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PICTURE. CAREER HISTORY STUDIES, TOGETHER WITH METHADONE MAINTENANCE RESULTS, PROVIDE STRONG EVIDENCE THAT NARCOTIC ADDITION CAUSES AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF CRIME COMMITTED. ALTHOUGH EXISTING DATA ARE SUBJECT TO DIFFERING INTERPRETATION, IT IS FAIR TO STATE THAT BECAUSE ADDICTS EXHIBIT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RECIDIVISM RATE, THERE EXISTS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COMMIT MORE PROPERTY AND VIOLENT CRIMES THAN DO NONADDICT CRIMINALS. IN GENERAL, THE HOMICIDE RATE AMONG NARCOTICS ADDICTS IS VERY HIGH. NARCOTIC ADDICTION INCREASES THE FREQUENCY OF INCOME-GENERATING CRIME FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS USING CRIME AS A MEANS OF SUPPORTING THEIR ADDICTIONS. FUTURE RESEARCH SHOULD FOCUS ON LONGITUDINAL SURVEYS COUPLED WITH THE CAREER HISTORY APPROACH FOR THE RELATIVELY SMALL PROPORTION OF HEAVY USERS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)