Drug-related criminality among young people

Drug-related criminality in Gothenburg, Sweden, was studied by following up criminal charges for stratified samples of unselected groups--ninth graders in 1968 and military conscripts in 1969/70--and selected groups--psychiatric patients and social welfare clients--of drug abusers. Cannabis was the predominant drug but central stimulants taken intravenously also occurred, particularly in the selected groups. During a follow-up period of 5-9 years cumulative criminality for men was twice as high among those who had stated high-frequency drug use in questionnaires, and four times as high among selected drug abusers, as the average in the unselected groups. Cumulative criminality was lower for women, but was nine times higher for women who had stated high-frequency drug use, and about 18 times higher for selected drug abusers, than was the average in the unselected groups. The most common drug-related crimes (in descending order) were crimes against property, against the Narcotics Drug Penal Act, and against the Road Traffic Offences Act. There was no significant increase in crimes against person. It is estimated that 25-50% of the criminals in the unselected groups of young men were drug abusers.