Transcript piche substance abuse and economic crimex

Substance Abuse and Economic
Crime
Criminology 2330
“I’m always trying to escape from
the reality of my life”
Nick, Cocaine addicted client, 2014
Substance Abuse & Crime Quotes
Drugs, speed made me crazy. You live in an unreal
space. I was quite psychotic when I did my armed
robbery
Drugs are my courage and I think I can do
anything, so I do crime
It made me feel good and happy, but my decisions
between right and wrong were cloudy
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Substance abuse
Drug trafficking
Organized crime
White Collar crime
Theft
Fraud
Prostitution
Pimps
• Is it OK to take from others?
• Is it OK to use “the system” to fund your
needs?
• Is it Ok to commit economic crime if you can’t
ever make that amount of money alone?
• If you are drunk, stoned or intoxicated, is it
your fault?
• Having money creates God-like feelings of
power and success
• What happens when you can’t do that
through legal means?
Link Between Substances and Crime
Substance abuse primary cause and contributor to crime for both men
and women residing in jail in many studies
Over half offenders have substance abuse dependence
At least 50% of violent offences involve alcohol use
1/3 offenders receive treatment for drug offences
Substance abuse treatment programs big push in both provincial and
federal systems
Women and Drugs
Women metabolize alcohol and other psychoactive substances more
slowly than men, allowing harmful metabolites to remain longer in
their bodies
2/3 of women with substance misuse problems may have concurrent
mental health problem, such as depression, post-traumatic stress
disorder, panic disorder and or eating disorder
Large proportion women with substance use problems are victims of
domestic violence, incest, rape, sexual assault and child physical
abuse
Research on drugs and crime
More are incarcerated for drug offences than for any
other contributing to an increasing prison
population.
Offenders often under the influence of drugs when
they committed their offences.
Commit property crime to support their habits.
Trafficking often engenders violent crime.
Theories of Addiction
Disease Model
Assumes that certain
individuals have
particular disposition
Adaptive Model
Individuals become
addicted in attempting
to adapt to the
circumstances in their
lives.
Arguments for and against causality
Alcohol is neither
Alcohol contributes to
necessary or sufficient
violence in some
cause of violence
people under certain
circumstances
Alcohol is not the
primary determinant
Alcohol appears to act
synergistically with
Alcohol’s influence on
hostile motivations
violence is not
uniform
Terminology
Drug versus Substance
Legal versus illegal
Addiction
Substance Dependence
Biological versus Psychological Dependence
Violence can occur in various phases of drug
use including acute intoxication, drugseeking behavior associated with withdrawal,
and episodes of drug-induced psychosis and
paranoia associated most often with
stimulant use.
Neurotransmitters & Hormones
• Amphetamines release norepinephrine,
dopamine & serotonin
• Cocaine & amphetamines release excess
amounts of dopamine followed by state of
depletion
• High testosterone + low acute doses of alcohol =
aggressive behavior
– High levels of alcohol typically reduces aggression
(some still violent after high doses)
Brain on Drugs
• Neurotransmitters:
– Dopamine - too much triggers bizarre thoughts of
schizophrenia; too little implicated in Parkinson’s
disease
– Serotonin - decreased levels linked to depression,
anxiety, aggression (assoc w/ alcohol)
• Those prone to alcoholism are usually anxiety ridden
• Enjoy calming effects of alcohol
• Substance abuse runs in family - heredity
• Alcohol - women experience more & earlier brain
damage than men who drink comparable amount
Types of Violence
1.
Pharmacological violence - violence perpetrated under
influence of substances
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2.
Systemic violence - aggressive patterns of interaction
w/in system of drug distribution & use
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3.
murders over drug turf & violence by drug distributors in
course of territorial disputes, retribution for selling bad drugs,
enforcing rules w/in drug-dealing organization, fighting among
users
Economic compulsive behavior - acquisition of drugs
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alcohol, PCP, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates
generate money to support addiction
Heroin & cocaine b/c of expense
Overlap b/w 3 types of violence often occurs
Major Categories of Psychoactive Drugs
1) Hallucinogens – create an altered state of mind (LSD,
Ecstasy, PCP – angel dust), marijuana, hashish
2) Stimulants - “stimulate” the central nervous system
functions (caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines –
‘uppers’ (crystal meth) * addictive
3) opiate narcotics – heroin * addictive
4) sedative-hypnotics or depressants.
• Tolerance: progressively decreased responsiveness to a
drug
• Dependence (physical and/or psychological): withdrawal
and intense “desire” for drug, delirium tremors
Types of Substances
Central Nervous Depressants
– Alcohol
– Cannabis
– Sedative/hypnotics/anxiolytics
– Opioid analgesics
– Inhalants (ie. glue/gasoline)
Opiate Narcotic Drugs
• Opium or poppy plant
• have sedative (sleep-inducing) & analgesic (painrelieving) effects; CNS system depressant.
• Natural narcotics (grown opium)
• Semisynthetic narcotics (chemically prepared
heroin)
• Synthetic narcotics (methadone)
• Highly addictive (a relentless and strong craving)
Narcotics: Heroin & Crime
• Research: criminal activity increases during
periods of heavy drug consumption but heroin?
• Notion of “desperate junkie” looking for a fix;
assumed “bizarre & unpredictable”
• heroin induces sleepiness rather than psychotic
or paranoid panic states sometimes produced by
high doses of amphetamines
• Narcotic addicts generally not violent but,
connection b/w heroin & money-making crime
(theft, robberies, shoplifting, etc)
Inhalants
• Many products that can be abused by
sniffing or “huffing” an intoxicating effect
(i.e., cleaning solution, gasoline, glue, etc).
• Effects: similar to alcohol
– including slurred speech, loss of motor
coordination, distortion of perceptions,
headache, vomiting, & nausea
– Not considered a “gate way” drug
– Real problem is side effects (kidney, liver, &
heart failure)
Psychological Effects of Alcohol
Drinking more than 5 drinks per occasion increases
likelihood that person will be involved in violence
– (either as perpetrator or victim)
• Acute intoxication leads to disinhibited behavior &
can lead to aggression in people already prone to
violence
• Effects are complex:
– Low doses (2-4 ounces) seems to act as a stimulant (euphoria, social
and physical warmth)
– In moderate/high quantities, alcohol depresses the CNS
(concentration impaired, self-confidence increases, becoming more
daring)
Sedative-Hypnotics: The Depressants
• Alcohol, “club-drugs,” are sedative-hypnotic chemicals that
depress CNS functions (sedate nervous system, reduce
anxiety and tension)
• GHB & Rohypnol – date rape drug (mentally & physically
incapacitate the victim)
– tasteless, odourless, & mixes easily w/ alcohol or non-alcoholic
drinks
– powerful & fast-acting pleasure enhancer that produces a state of
intoxication
– Unpredictable side effects (nausea, drowsiness, delusions,
depression, loss of consciousness, slowed heart rate, etc.)
• Benzodiazepines – diazepam (Valium), serax, librium,
clonazepam
– Prescription & often prescribed as anti-anxiety tranquilizers or to
treat muscle spasms or convulsions
Types of Substances
Central Nervous Stimulants
– Amphetamines
– Caffeine
– Cocaine
– Nicotine
– Ecstasy (mixed stimulant/hallucinogen)
Stimulants and Crime
Speed users may engage in aggressive or violent behaviour
(often predisposed to behave violently before using the
drug).
Cocaine – expensive; drug trade.
Crack – often polydrug users. More likely to steal.
Research suggests that crack use does not appear to cause
violent behaviour in normally nonviolent people.
Besides trafficking, no direct connection between MDMA and
crime (serious physical and neurological damage if used
frequently and with other drugs).
Amphetamines
• Increased alertness & decrease in appetite, feel
impact quickly & last for hours (upwards of 12)
• High dose can cause anxiety, insomnia, irritability,
violent behaviour & symptoms of psychosis
(hallucinations, delusions, paranoia)
• After “speed run”, person often feels depressed
Cocaine & Crack
• Cocaine: expensive & natural “organic”
substance; cannot be produced synthetically
• Crack: cheaper; “freebasing” cocaine
– How do you make crack?
• Dissolve cocaine hydrochloride in water,
then add a base such as ammonia or
baking soda
Crack
• Crack creates a very rapid, intense state
of euphoria, which peaks in ~ 5 minutes
– Physiological and psychological effects as
powerful as cocaine
• Euphoria short & replaced by depression,
irritability & intense craving for more
Role of Dopamine
• Dopamine affects a region of brain that controls
pleasure
• All stimulants release some dopamine but crystal
meth releases much larger amounts:
– Cocaine releases 400% more dopamine
– Crystal meth releases almost 1500% more
dopamine
“If cocaine can be thought of as a
conventional weapon, crystal meth is like a
nuclear weapon”
(Courtesy NIDA)
frontal
cortex
METHAMPHETAMINE
1500
% of Basal Release
Dopamine
Neurotransmission
1000
500
0
0
1
2
3hr
Time After Methamphetamine
COCAINE
nucleus
accumbens
VTA/SN
% of Basal Release
500
400
300
200
100
0
0
1
2
3
4
Time After Cocaine
5 hr
Stimulants & Crime
• Speed users may engage in aggressive or
violent behaviour (often predisposed to behave
violently before using the drug)
• Cocaine – expensive; drug trade; can be
violent
• Crack – often polydrug users. More likely to
steal
• Research suggests that crack use does not
appear to cause violent behaviour in normally
non-violent people
MDMA (ecstasy)
• Synthetic drug: a stimulant with some psychedelic
effects (lasts 4 to 6 hours).
• Psychological effects includes confusion, depression,
anxiety, sleeplessness, drug craving, muscle tension,
involuntary clenching of the teeth, and paranoia.
• “Energy rush” that encourages users to stay
physically active.
• Besides trafficking, no direct connection between
MDMA and crime (serious physical and neurological
damage if used frequently and with other drugs).
Types of Substances
• Hallucinogens
– LSD
– Mescaline
– PCP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDBofgWP5fM
Alcohol
By far the most common cause of substance related
disorders in Canada
50% of all fatal MVAs involve alcohol
25% of all suicides involve alcohol
Nearly 50% of homicides involve of alcohol
Intoxication can lead to
blackouts/trauma/tolerance/psychiatric symptoms
Violence
Persons consuming large amounts of alcohol
were at greater risk for violence than those
consuming smaller amounts.
The amount of alcohol consumed tends to be
larger in more serious offenses;
The connection between drinking and violence
is stronger where the relationship between
the perpetrator and victim is closer, and
Violence includes aggravated assault, rape,
and robbery.
Alcohol & Crime
“Catalyst” for crime”; 1 in 3 arrests in US results from
alcohol abuse.
Overall, ~1/3 of all violent offenders were drinking at the
time of offense, and many were highly intoxicated.
~50% of homicide victims were found to have high blood
alcohol content.
Research: drinking at time of the offense
86% of homicide offenders
60% of sexual offenders
37% of assault offenders
57% of marital violence
13% of child abusers.
Does alcohol causes violence?
Most likely, influence, individuals prone to be
aggressive, violent, and antisocial are more
likely to be so (when intoxicated).
Alcohol may facilitate aggressive tendencies.
• “In both animals and human studies, alcohol
more than any other drug, has been linked
with a high incidence of violence and
aggression.”
Alcohol & Crime
Relationship between heavy drinking of alcohol
and aggression/violence is well supported.
Explanations:
Disinhibitory Models: alcohol influences
neurological or psychological mechanisms
that normally control aggressive and
antisocial behavior.
Disease Model: chronic drinking is a disease
reflected in an individual’s inability to control
drinking (disease existed before the first
drink was taken).
Alcohol & Crime
Disinhibitory and disease viewpoints focus on internal
influences or predispositions.
By contrast, social-cognitive models emphasize
interactions between belief systems or expectancies,
and the social environment.
Addictions are learned and situationally determined.
One cannot help oneself is a cognitive expectancy.
Expectancy becomes the crucial factor.
Alcohol and Crime
Of all drugs, alcohol shows to strongest relationship
with violent offenses.
Alcohol appears to impair or disrupt the brain
operations responsible for self-control.
Impairs information processing: misjudging social
cues and overreactions to a perceived threat.
Joint function of pharmacological effects, cognitive
expectancies, and situational influences.
Alcohol
• Despite the “cry” over drugs particularly
methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, &
marijuana…
• Alcohol is the #1 drug of abuse
• Responsible for more deaths & violence
(3rd major cause of death in US) than all
other drugs combined
War On Drugs?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91y9Kq
vVggY
Relationship b/w Drugs & Crime
• Relationship between crime & drugs is complex,
involving interactions among pharmacological,
social & psychological variables
• Unlikely drugs “cause” crime but rather ‘precipitate’
– Certain drugs allow some to disengage from usual
constraints against antisocial conduct, including violence
• Chronic, persistent criminals are often polydrug
users
Types of Substance Abusing Offenders
Early Stage Substance Abusers are experimental and
recreational substance abusers whose crimes result from
impaired judgment or disinhibition while under the
influence of drugs and/or alcohol
Addicts are those for whom daily life is dedicated to drugseeking behavior. Petty crime has become their primary
means to support their addiction. Serious or violent crime
is less prevalent in this group than in the criminogenic
substance abuser
Types of Substance Abusing Offenders
The mentally ill substance abuser has a concurrent
mental illness and substance abuse problem
(dually diagnosed)
Criminogenic substance abusers are those who do
not wish to be part of “mainstream” society. Their
substance abuse is incidental to their criminal
behavior
Who is At-Risk for Addiction?
Etiology of addiction is multifactorial (biopsychosocial)
Variables correlated w/ increased risk of
addiction:
– Psychological vulnerability (prior history of
problems w/ other drugs or prior treatment)
– Family hx of addiction
– History of trauma
Economic Crimes
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Drug trafficking
Organized crime
White Collar crime
Theft
Fraud
Prostitution (new laws to be tabled – bill C36)
• Pimps