Effects of Polydrug Use on the Criminal Activities of Heroin‐users

Summary While heroin users commit crimes, it remains unclear whether they only do so to finance their heroin habits. Many users are criminal before taking heroin, but once taking heroin their need for heroin may determine their criminal activity. Alternatively, the heroin‐crime relationship may be reciprocal, each influencing the other. From structured interviews with 28 heroin‐users, it was found that: (1) Extent of heroin use correlated with theft from strangers and burglary of businesses but not other crimes. (2) Extent of heroin use correlated with working ‘on the side’ (evading tax and/or claiming social security benefits). (3) An economic crime index was predicted by tranquillizer use with heroin use. (4) The use of some other drugs—notably alcohol and sleeping pills—correlated with some crimes. (5) Regression analyses showed a general delinquent pattern and several crimes not predicted by other variables. (6) Heroin use could be well predicted by a complex equation including the extent of use of five different drugs, but only one crime—theft from work. It is concluded that, even amongst heavy heroin users, neither heroin use nor crime adequately predict each other. The uses of other drugs, especially depressants, influenced both heroin and crime.