Abigail A. Ramirez, BS Criminal Justice

August 15, 2021

University of Texas at Arlington

The Trajectory of Drug Use

With drug use always being popular, it has allowed researchers to collect information on the trajectory that drug use has. We can see how it has affected health and we have conclusive research to represent the information. Research has shown a victim offender overlap and can now evaluate individuals’ risk for criminal behavior and victimization. The research that is conducted takes into consideration factors such as low self-control and show just how impactful this can be with drug use and delinquent behavior. This will be a discussion to note how substance use can start individuals down a delinquent path and how drug use can sustain a delinquent life-course trajectory. 

Victim-offender Overlap.

With all the research conducted, researchers focused on routine activities theory. This theory is the hypothesis of a relationship between criminal victimization and risky lifestyles. The extensive research on routine activities a long with victimization concludes that victims are in close similarity to their offenders (Forde and Kennedy). Although the victim may not have naturally been an offender they are related because of the nature of offending. We are a product of our own society and if once a victim, a person is in a sense being taught that it is okay to victimize others. Often times, people feel this way in their own households and simply treat others the way they have been treated. This is not always the case, but it can explain some victim-offender overlap.

When speaking about being a product of your environment, one can refer to the book Drug Crazy by Mike Gray. In this book Gray discusses the Gangster Disciples.  Dwyane Thomas states, “I been in the gang (Gangster Disciples) since I was eleven or twelve.” (Gray, pg 25) Gray goes on to tell the readers that this individual had a mother who was an alcoholic and a father who had left. Criminalization directly impacts our youth to beginning here and continues into adulthood. At the young age of eleven or twelve the only thing a child should be focused on is school and enjoying childhood. The situation that the mother is in is hard because instead of having a rehabilitation program, her son had to witness her struggle. Although many may question whether the mother put herself in this predicament or not is arguable, but

people have different ways of copping and alcohol was readily available to her. For all we know that may have been the environment she was brought up in. The victim-offender overlap is harmful enough when analyzing victims alone. When we look at this mother it could be assumed that she has been a victim for most of her life. As unfortunate as it is the research shows that criminal victimization is disproportionate among the population because those who have already been victimized are more likely to be victimized again (Turanovic and Pratt).

Low Self-control and Delinquent Behavior.

One study looked at the lives of 1,000 children and by the age of 10 y, many had mastered self-control, but others were failing to achieve the skill. This research was conducted over the course of serval decades and traced the consequences of their childhood self-control for their health, wealth, and criminal offending. As children with low self-control, they were at high risk for substance abuse, and this was affirmed. This study even showed that children with poor self-control were more likely to be convicted of a criminal offense, even after accounting for social class origins and IQ (Moffitt et al.). Interestingly enough, the outcome from children at age 12y children did report their delinquent behaviors, it was evident in each child’s performance in English and mathematics.

Because of research such as this, economists are now demanding attention to individual differences in self-control as a key consideration for policy-makers who seek to enhance the physical and financial health of the population and reduce the crime rate (Moffitt et al.). 

In other research, analyzing self-reported data from a survey of a general population, indicates a highly complex relationship between low self-control and crime. When taking self-control into consideration, this can mean a lot of things. If one does not have self-control to say no, then how can one even begin to be productive. To this point, it would make sense that if a drug user does have self-control there could be room for productivity instead of delinquency. 

When David R. Forde and Leslie W. Kennedy, conducted this research they did 

have elements that show that low self-control does not directly affect crime, although measures of self-control have strong effects on imprudent behavior (Forde and Kennedy). With that being said those effects will often correlate to offending. 

Further research including Christopher J. Schreck, Eric A. Stewart, and Bonnie S. Fisher, 

“specifically considered two questions: (1) whether low self-control at one point in time can predict future victimization, and (2) whether victims alter lifestyle choices (like their own delinquency and contact with delinquent peers) in response to their earlier victimization” (Schreck et al.). The results did support the predictions of self-control theory. This meant that low self-control measured at an earlier period is associated with victimization at a later point. Similarly, self-control does seem to influence the relationship between earlier victimization and the lifestyles that will come later. This presents multiple questions that could be correlated to self-control and criminality. Because self-control measured at age 15 should predict criminal activity at age 15 and thereafter there is a plethora of research that can be done in the criminal research realm. 

Where does Delinquency Lead?

  If having low self-control equates to falling into a life of delinquency, where does delinquency lead? If low self-control leads to substance abuse, then we can see many different outcomes that fall under delinquency. In a study conducted with men from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, they noted diagnosed conduct disorder, substance dependence, and self-reported delinquent offending (HUSSONG et al.). This was also combined with antisocial behaviors. When we take the time to analyze what this means, we can truly see that these characteristics are not necessarily characteristics of those who do go on to be successful. These characteristics often lead to illegal behaviors and this was concluded in their research. One thing worth noting is what the comparison for women might be to measure antisocial behavior, alcohol abuse, and marijuana abuse. This is because often times women are held to a different standard than men and there could be a gender gap. When children grow up boys almost always get away with things because, “Boys will be boys”. Although it is ideal to live in a society where gender roles are not a thing, this is a comparison worth noting. 

There is also such a thing as racial issues and whether someone looks like they are a criminal. This kind of racial view is evident in the book by Scott Jacques and Richard Wright: Code of the Suburb: Inside the World of Young Middle-Class Drug Dealers. In this book, antisocial behaviors were assessed and there are illegal behaviors taking place. In fact, Maria Latimer, who gave her review of the book, stated “When Americans tend to think of true drug dealers, they likely are inundated with images of a low-class neighborhood filled with minority individuals (Jacques et al.).” In reality, the book goes on to talk about just the opposite and how there is a world where kids of wealth, high education, and in the pursuit of college dreams, also double as drug dealers just to look cool or to fit in. 

There is a certain status young people are put in if they are drug users. Drug use is not something that everyone knows about, so it now opens a door for young growing adults to ask those who are experienced. There is a way for two completely different types of people to interact and experience drug use. It is almost as if doing drugs made someone more approachable to engage with. This even moves into the early years of college when freshmen students meet upperclassmen who are already quite experienced in the drug world. 

When it really does get down to getting in trouble over drug usage, we can take a look at the research that shows that defendants almost never get treatment but often get probation: “This is a quick way to get rid of cases, but not necessarily in the best interest of the defendants who have serious drug problems.” (Gray, pg27) This creates a long line of never-ending problems in society because they are not receiving help. Without any help being readily available, defendants will come back to court again. This is where instead of spending money on probation, money could be allocated to give treatment. There is a large need for rehabilitation or even just mental health programs for youth. This will indefinitely effect children who grew up selling on the streets. When they are in and out of the court time and time again, they will not be given a second look. There could be hope for ending delinquency with just the right amount of help. 

Conclusion.

With all the research that has been conducted on drug use it is clear that there is a particular trajectory that drug use has. Drug use can lead to delinquency. Following delinquency, we can see that mental health and medical health can become of concern. As unfortunate as it is the victim offender overlap is clear and victims will more than likely be victimized again. The research that is conducted takes into consideration factors such as low self-control and show just how impactful this can be with drug use and delinquent behavior.  This is how substance use can start individuals down a delinquent path and how drug use can sustain a delinquent life-course trajectory. 

References

Forde, David R., and Leslie W. Kennedy. “Risky Lifestyles, Routine Activities, and the General Theory of Crime.” Justice Quarterly, vol. 14, no. 2, 1 June 1997, pp. 265–294, 10.1080/07418829700093331. Accessed 16 Aug. 2021.

HUSSONG, ANDREA M., et al. “Substance Abuse Hinders Desistance in Young Adults’ Antisocial Behavior.” Development and Psychopathology, vol. 16, no. 04, Dec. 2004, 10.1017/s095457940404012x. Accessed 16 Aug. 2021.

Jacques, Scott, et al. “BOOK REVIEW.” Scott Jacques and Richard Wright: Code of the Suburb: Inside the World of Young Middle-Class Drug Dealers, vol. 208, 2015, p. 9780226164250, 10.1007/s10964-015-0315-z. Accessed 16 Aug. 2021.

Moffitt, T. E., et al. “A Gradient of Childhood Self-Control Predicts Health, Wealth, and Public Safety.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 108, no. 7, 24 Jan. 2011, pp. 2693–2698, 10.1073/pnas.1010076108. Accessed 16 Aug. 2021.

Schreck, Christopher J., et al. “Self-Control, Victimization, and Their Influence on Risky Lifestyles: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Panel Data.” Journal of Quantitative Criminology, vol. 22, no. 4, 28 July 2006, pp. 319–340, 10.1007/s10940-006-9014-y. Accessed 16 Aug. 2021.

Turanovic, Jillian J., and Travis C. Pratt. “‘Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop’: Self-Control, Risky Lifestyles, and Repeat Victimization.” Journal of Quantitative Criminology, vol. 30, no. 1, 8 Nov. 2012, pp. 29–56, 10.1007/s10940-012-9188-4. Accessed 16 Aug. 2021.

Gray, Mike. Drug Crazy : How We Got into This Mess and How We Can Get Out. New York, Routledge, 2000.