Social Circumstances of Non-Convicted vs Convicted Drug Users

Abstract

This paper deals with the criminal behaviour of a group of young drug users in the geographical area of Southern Hampshire, England. It is based upon data obtained in intensive personal interviews of a non-representative sample of one hundred and twenty-two drug users. It thus differs from most previous studies which have dealt mainly with the institutionalized drug users. Although studies on institutionalized users reveal a great deal about patterns of criminal behaviour associated with drug use, they reveal very little about what happens before and after the individual’s institutionalization, and almost nothing at all about the individual’s use of drugs and non-reported criminal behaviour, and the events that led to the cmiminal behaviour being brought to the attention of the various statutory bodies. Equally important, research conducted in institutions contains little or no information about many of the attitudes, values and other characteristics of a drug taking group with which this study is concerned.