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Attributable fractions for substance use in relation to crime
Matthew M Young1,2, Chealsea De Moor1, Pam Kent1
1Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|March 19, 2021
Summary
Over 42% of Canadian crimes resulting in incarceration were linked to alcohol or drug use. These findings highlight the significant impact of substance use on criminal behavior.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Substance use is a significant factor in criminal behavior.
- Estimating the proportion of crimes attributable to psychoactive substances is crucial for public health and policy.
- Existing methodologies provide a framework for such estimations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To calculate attributable fractions for alcohol and other psychoactive substances in relation to crime.
- To estimate the proportion of violent and non-violent crimes explained by substance use.
- To build upon existing frameworks for substance use and crime association.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Canadian federal correctional institutions.
- Canadian male and female offenders (n=29,138) serving custodial sentences between 2006-2016 participated.
- A computerized self-report assessment evaluated the role of intoxication or substance seeking in offenses, alongside dependence levels.
Main Results:
- Offender self-reports indicate that 42% of violent and non-violent crimes would likely not have occurred without substance influence or seeking.
- Alcohol was attributable to 20% of violent crimes and 7% of non-violent crimes in Canada (2006-2016).
- Other psychoactive substances combined were linked to 26% of violent and 25% of non-violent crimes.
Conclusions:
- Attributable fraction analyses suggest over 42% of Canadian custodial sentences between 2006-2016 are associated with substance use.
- These estimations offer valuable insights into the impact of alcohol and other substances on crime.
- The findings underscore the importance of addressing substance abuse in criminal justice and public health strategies.
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