Which model of perspectives on drug use and crime do you believe is the most accurate? Why?

Respond to:

1. Abigail: It is my opinion that the predisposition model or “criminal model” is the most accurate perspective on drug use and crime. As uncontrolled drugs are mostly illegal, the statement that drug abusers are not law-abiding citizens is accurate. Most drug abusers are either involved in criminal activity before or during drug use. This makes truth to the statement that there is a predisposition toward criminal activity. Because the behaviors of criminals and drug abusers are so similar, it is likely to believe that both are intertwined. Because most drug users reside near the criminal culture, criminal behavior is encouraged along with drug use. The environmental circumstances also play a role within this model. Therefore, even with the legalization of drugs the crime rate will not be significantly lowered. Drug users are more likely to kill and be killed than those who do not illegally use drugs. I believe that this model does a great job at examining the use of drugs in people who were engaged in a life of crime. However, I feel as if it is also important to look at the use of drugs that began during criminal activity. Although drug arrests make up a large part of the criminal justice system, legalizing the use of drugs would be much worse. The ability to be arrested for using drugs is a protection order as drug users would only continue to commit much worse crimes. An example of this would be the Anti-Drug Abuse Acts of 1986/1988. The sale of drugs within 1000 feet of a school results in a penalty that is doubled. This acts as a protection to school children.

2.Amber: Three major perspectives have been used to explore the connection between drug use and crime: the enslavement or medical model, the predisposition or criminal model, and the intensification model. The enslavement model suggests a person is essentially “enslaved” into this lifestyle by the circumstances surrounding their life. These circumstances could be because of poverty, a physical disorder, or a number of other circumstances. The predisposition model asserts that a person that is already involved in criminal activity is more likely to adhere to drug use. This is in large part due to the social subcultures the criminal is a part of. Typically, drug use is accepted and even encouraged in these types of social settings. Finally, the intensification model is a combination of the first two. Once a criminal career has started, it is normally intensified by drug use.

I believe the last perspective, the intensification model, is the most accurate model. We all have heard of breaking the cycle in families. This can refer to drug abuse, physical abuse, or any other kind of negative behavior that is learned from what we have seen demonstrated throughout our life. It is important for someone to “break the cycle,” because statistics show us a person is more likely to cling to what they know; even if that means pain. If a person has been “enslaved” to this lifestyle, their social circle tends to be with people experiencing the same type of life. In this type of environment, drugs are typically normal and just part of everyday life. All of the elements work together to intensify the situation.

References:

Levinthat, C. F., & Lovins, L. B. (2020). Drugs, Society, Criminal Justice (5th ed.). Pearson Education.