Criminal offenses and illegal drug-use have a very tight relationship. This relationship has been extensively studied; yet it has been challenging the issues within the criminal, health, and social communities for centuries. Drugs can impair judgment, result in poor anger management, violent behavior, and therefore they can and often do result in criminal behavior (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). Attacking the Drug Problem: Attacking Crime Societal drug users and drug involved crimes are not only among the top concerns of health officials, criminal justice systems, and citizens, but also of the policy-makers that enveloped this country. Drugs are almost automatically associated with criminal behavior and they are often times the center
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There was a survey done by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2004, which estimated that about 70 percent of State and 64 percent of Federal prisoners regularly used drugs prior to incarceration, this is well over half of all people serving in some type of sentence in the criminal justice system. It also showed that 1 in 4 violent offenders in State prisons committed their crimes while under the influence of drugs. People who use drugs often times commit crimes when they are “high”. They at times steal money and property in order to continue and pay for their drug use which also can lead to other crimes like burglary (National Institute on Drug Abuse, …show more content…
They had at least some partial influences in the rising in gun violence, increased murder rates, sky rocketing prison populations, making race issues worsen, and drug decision making has also had influences on court issues like individual rights (Walker, 2015). Obstacles create walls in front of reasonable decision making and discussion.
Some of these obstacles have included panic over the dangers of drug use and drug-related crimes (Walker, 2015). For instance, in the 1930s there were swells of national hysterics about “reefer madness,” there were crazy stories in regards to the now somewhat legal marijuana and how it would drive people into complete madness (Walker, 2015). It was suggested that marijuana made people violent and especially made women promiscuous (Walker, 2015). Even a 1938 film called Reefer Madness gave people insight that caused them to believe marijuana caused people to go “crazy” (Walker, 2015). Anti-drug campaigns also add to people’s perceptions of the “reality” of drugs. Add campaigns like, “This is Your Brain on Drugs,” that give the image that if people use drugs their brains will turn into scrambled eggs (Walker, 2015). Films and literature continue grow that give the audience views and proclamations that drugs like marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine 's, and crack cocaine
There was a survey done by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2004, which estimated that about 70 percent of State and 64 percent of Federal prisoners regularly used drugs prior to incarceration, this is well over half of all people serving in some type of sentence in the criminal justice system. It also showed that 1 in 4 violent offenders in State prisons committed their crimes while under the influence of drugs. People who use drugs often times commit crimes when they are “high”. They at times steal money and property in order to continue and pay for their drug use which also can lead to other crimes like burglary (National Institute on Drug Abuse, …show more content…
They had at least some partial influences in the rising in gun violence, increased murder rates, sky rocketing prison populations, making race issues worsen, and drug decision making has also had influences on court issues like individual rights (Walker, 2015). Obstacles create walls in front of reasonable decision making and discussion.
Some of these obstacles have included panic over the dangers of drug use and drug-related crimes (Walker, 2015). For instance, in the 1930s there were swells of national hysterics about “reefer madness,” there were crazy stories in regards to the now somewhat legal marijuana and how it would drive people into complete madness (Walker, 2015). It was suggested that marijuana made people violent and especially made women promiscuous (Walker, 2015). Even a 1938 film called Reefer Madness gave people insight that caused them to believe marijuana caused people to go “crazy” (Walker, 2015). Anti-drug campaigns also add to people’s perceptions of the “reality” of drugs. Add campaigns like, “This is Your Brain on Drugs,” that give the image that if people use drugs their brains will turn into scrambled eggs (Walker, 2015). Films and literature continue grow that give the audience views and proclamations that drugs like marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine 's, and crack cocaine