Substance use has been shown to have a direct link to criminality. Though not all drug or alcohol users turn to crime and many people will commit crimes before starting to use substances, there is a correlation between the two of them. It is important for those who use substances to understand the link between the two and what help is available if they’d like to stop using substances and decrease their risk of being arrested in the future.
History Of Drug Abuse Links to Career Criminality
Recent studies have shown that there is a link between criminal acts and substance use. Those who use substances are more likely to commit crimes than those who don’t, and those who are career criminals are far more likely to use substances than those who avoid criminal acts. When someone finds they are arrested frequently for drug-related crimes or they start to consider criminal acts because of the substance use, they do have options like going through treatment in an outpatient setting to prevent everything from getting worse.
Criminal Behaviors Often Used to Fund Substance Abuse
Many studies have found that those who abuse substances will turn to criminal behaviors to fund their addiction. They might steal from people they know, steal items from stores to sell them for money to purchase substances or take on other risky behaviors to have enough money to purchase the substance they use. This is part of the reason why there is a link between substance use and criminality. Often, once someone has become addicted, they will lose their source of income or have trouble having enough money to purchase the substance, so they end up committing crimes to get more money for the substance.
Treatment Can Help Reduce Drug-Related Crimes
Treatment has been shown to help reduce drug-related crimes. When someone is able to start recovering from their addiction, they are able to get their life back on track and avoid turning to crime to fund the addiction. It is crucial for them to continue working on their recovery, as relapsing is a common problem for those who are trying to get clean and turn their life around. However, with the work put in and with the support of their loved ones, treatment and recovery are possible and can help prevent a lengthy arrest record. It is also important to understand the relationship between trauma and substance abuse as well.
Reasons for Crime Increase With Drug Abuse
There are numerous reasons why crime tends to increase with substance abuse. It is common for those who use substances to be highly motivated to bring in more money to spend on their addiction, and they often end up willing to commit crimes for this reason. They may also suffer from surges in dopamine and other hormones, which can cause them to act without thinking about the consequences of their action. Many times, they will also suffer a change in their overall mindset, leading them to be more willing to do things they know are wrong just so they can get more of the substance.
While not everyone who abuses substances will turn to crimes, there is a correlation between the two that’s important to understand. If you or someone you love is suffering from an addiction, especially if you’ve started to commit crimes to fund the addiction, now is the time to seek help. Look into a treatment center to start the recovery process today.