The prohibition of drugs causes crime. You don’t have to legalize, just decriminalize it.
– Jesse Ventura
Drug abuse basically refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain. There are approx. 190 million drug users around the world and the problem has been increasing at alarming rates, especially among young adults under the age of 30.
These psychotropic drugs are consumed by people sometimes by curiosity and sometimes due to peer pressure especially among school children and young adults, the use of prescription drugs that were originally intended to target pain relief may also turns into recreational use and become addictive to individuals.
Some commonly used drugs include – Alcohol, Tobacco, Cocaine, Opium, Hashish and Synthetic drugs like heroin, ecstasy and LSD. The effects of drug use disorders on society are substantial in nature. It is seen in various different age groups and in individuals from nearly all walks of life and socioeconomic strata. According to one statistical data in nation and internationally 70% of male prisoners were drug abusers which is significant compared to the 11.2% rate of drug abuse in the entire male population . Alcohol has the highest relationship with aggressive crimes.
According to survey reports between 2013-2018 criminals who had abused drugs and alcohol simultaneously committed 21.4% of aggressive crimes. Among individuals who were arrested in Australia during 2004, 82% had a history of drug abuse, 69% had abused drugs at least 6 months before their arrest and 62% frequently abused drugs. So by this we can confer that drug and crime are related to each other in multiple ways. Most directly, it is a crime to use, possess, manufacture, or distribute drugs classified as having a potential for abuse which in turn affecting the society and increases the community risk factors of anti-social and criminal behaviour in society. As Drugs are not always illegal, and their sale and use does not always lead to crime.
Nevertheless, drugs and crime are related to each other in at least three ways.
First, the immediate effect of drugs on the mind and body may create mental or physical states that somehow facilitate aggression or theft.
Second, drugs are connected to crime when a drug user has a pressing need to consume them but lacks the necessary funds to do so; such situations may lead to predatory crimes, including burglary, robbery, or theft, among others.
A third way in which drugs and crime are related is that some psychoactive substances are illegal to use, trade , or manufacture. When drugs are illegal, illicit market participants are unlikely to report being victimized to the police, which means that predators are more likely to prey on them; in turn, there may be retaliation when this happens. In short, drugs can be related to crime if they cause a mental or physical state conducive to law breaking, lead to a perceived need that results in the motivation to steal, or result in a decrease in access to formal mediation and a corresponding increase in predatory and retaliatory crimes.
Crime control and the use of the criminal justice system to address the misuse and abuse of drugs could be the societal response of last resort. Criminal justice policy makers and leaders from all levels and branches must collaborate with members of the health services community, both public and private, on effective methods to address drug and substance abuse. Public and private health care systems should be adequately funded to avoid inappropriate criminal justice system responses; however, for those offenders who suffer from drug disorders, the criminal justice system must address the offender’s highest risks factors and need there conjunction with criminal sanctions so that the treatments may lead them to a live better life.
Drug abuse is rife in many countries , including India billions of dollars are spent every year for preventing drug use, treating addicts, and fighting drug-related crime.
Drugs threatens many societies, but their effects can also be combated successfully. As there are concrete steps that can be taken to weaken the hold of drugs on society. The danger from drugs is too great to ignore. We must act now to save our society and nation too in every possible ways.
References :
https://www.lawyersnjurists.com/article/crimes-related-to-drugs/
@MANISHANANDAN
LIVE BY CHOICE NOT BY CHANCE!!!! 
Leave a comment