The connection between Drugs and violent crime

The connection between Drugs and violent crime
According to 1994 figures by the Department of Justice [1][2], approximately 2.7% of those who didn't regularly take drugs committed violent crimes, in comparison to 4.8% of those who drank alcohol regularly (1.8 times higher), 14.6% of those who took Cannabis only (5.4 times higher), and 26.1%  of those who regularly took Cannabis, Alcohol, and Cocaine (9.6 times higher). In fact, 48% of all homicide and assault crimes were committed by a drug-dependent individuals, vs. just 9.4% of the population who were dependent on drugs, or a rate of 5 times higher than the general population. These figures remained roughly the same in another analysis in 2004. The trend shows that consistently, drug use is associated with higher rates of violent crime and behavior. While this is likely widely accepted that alcohol and cocaine are likely to lead to higher rates of violence (as well as other "hard" drugs such as meth, heroine, and barbiturates), marijuana remains more controversial, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and the fact the mechanism in the brain is consistent with other drugs and situation which also tend to increase rates of violence (predominately through the increase of dopamine).

Despite the notion that American prisons are full of non-violent drug offenders, the overwhelming majority of prisoners were incarcerated due to violent crimes, or 53.8%, according to 2013 incarceration figures. [3] Only 16% were incarcerated due to drug-related crimes, and of that, only 3.7% were in prison for possession alone, with a smaller percentage being for marijuana. It has been estimated that approximately 20,000 to 40,000 prisoners, or roughly 1-2%, are in prison for marijuana related charges, and generally this involves trafficking, intoxicated driving, or other charges to be incarcerated for long periods of time. Drug users do fill the prison, but overwhelmingly due to them committing other crimes, such as violent crimes or property offenses (theft). These figures remained roughly consistent when compared back to 2009 [4]

Drug users were also significantly more likely to cause accidents that lead to death. Looking at car accidents, 43.6% of fatal car accidents involved a driver testing positive for drugs (compared to just 9.4% of the general population) [5], while marijuana was associated with at least a two fold risk increase for fatal car accidents. Marijuana related car accidents trippled from 1993 to 2015, largely after widespread decriminalization and legalization. [6][7][8] Other accidents are also likely to be higher, given that drugs have a tendency to impair reaction times, basic cognitive functions, and distract the driver, as well as induce temporary psychosis. Legal drugs such as opiods and alcohol, were also associated with higher accident rates, indicating similiar trends with similiar drugs.

When drugs were legalized in many states and countries, violent crimes rates increased. In Portugal for example, violent crime rates increased by 60%, falling only after 16 years to levels that still remain 10% higher than before the legalization [9], and have fallen less than many comparable countries (with the U.S. violent crime rate falling by nearly half, for example [10]). While associated with a reduced risk in spreading HIV, this coincides with the production of drugs which can stop the spread of HIV, and likely was not responsible for this fall. Violent crime rates as well increased in Amsterdam, by nearly triple, after legalization. [11] In California, Colorado, and Washington, after marijuana was legalized for recreational use (not medical use), violent crime rates and car accidents went up concurrently, particularly among those testing positive for marijuana or THC, while violent crime has generally fallen over the rest of the U.S.; crime rates staying the same in these areas would still indicate a problem with violent crime as a result. [12][13] In Colorado from 2014 to 2018 after the legalization of marijuana, the violent crime rate increased from 307.8 to 397.2 (an increase in 29%), while the murder rate went from 2.8 to 3.7 (32%), despite it falling across the rest of the country. While the potential reasons or speculations on this are numerous, it is generally accepted that this occurred. [14][15][16] Some, such as forbes, have speculated this is due to the presence of places that have not prohibited the drugs (yet for some reason in places which did prohibit the drugs, violent crime did not rise), and people from prohibited areas flocking to non-prohibited areas. However, this is not consistent with the fact that Mexico has decriminalized many drugs and cartel members regardless of this increased their activities in California (going from one legal area to another, not an illegal area to a legal one), and the fact that legalizing the drug was said to in theory reduce profits for the cartels and drive down their activities, which it did not. If legalizing drugs increases the prevalence of crime from drug dealers, then the theory of drug legalization being useful for this reason is defeated outright.

Further, we know about the effects drugs have on the brain, that thus demonstrably, causatively prove why the drugs would increase rates of violent crime. Studies on the brain indicate that Marijuana increases dopamine levels and that THC is a dopamine antagonist, thus replicating the increase in violence associated with high levels of dopamine caused by other means, such as by alternative drugs (for example, cocaine), schizophrenia, or even sporting events, and found a 7 fold increase after compensating for socioeconomic status and other factors. "38% of the participants did try cannabis at least once in their life. Most of them experimented with cannabis in their teens, but then stopped using it. However, 20% of the boys who started using pot by age 18 continued to use it through middle age (32-48 years). One fifth of those who were pot smokers (22%) reported violent behavior that began after beginning to use cannabis, whereas only 0.3% reported violence before using weed. Continued use of cannabis over the life-time of the study was the strongest predictor of violent convictions, even when the other factors that contribute to violent behavior were considered in the statistical analysis. In conclusion, the results show that continued cannabis use is associated with a 7-fold greater odds for subsequent commission of violent crimes." [17][18] Alcohol use, heavy episodic drinking, and marijuana use were all more prevalent among young adults raised in households with greater resources, negating the argument that higher rates of violence among marijuana users was due to poverty levels or previous criminal lifestyles. [19][20]

It is very likely that violence rates increasing after drug legalization is not a coincidence brought on by other factors, when it is well known it's impact on the brain is likely to impair reasoning and judgement skills, with impulsivity being a primary factor in the likelihood for individuals to commit violent crime. [21][22] With impaired reasoning and cognitive skills, decision making skills are impacted, especially when the risk-reward centers of the brain are over stimulated, such as with dopamine, and so individuals are more likely to engage in unpredictable or risky behavior, thus increasing their chance of committing a violent crime. The emotional state of the user is less important when analyzing violent crimes; the overwhelming majority of violent crimes are committed out of a desire to obtain money (such as through burglary or muggings), and not due to extreme anger. Thus even if the individual is less prone to anger while on the drug, this is unlikely to decrease the chance of a violent crime. Impulsivity is a key factor linked to crime, and a lack of self control is more likely to lead to violence than the emotional state of the user. Drugs have also been known to agitate the user and increase paranoia or anxiety, with fear, and not anger, being more heavily linked to violent crime and behavior in general.



Conclusions
It is my opinion that the emphasis of law enforcement with drug crimes should focus on Rehabilitation, instead of incarceration, which should only be used as a last resort. Drug addiction can be treated, and is more likely to be successful if the individual goes through rehabilitation than through the prison system. Mandatory rehabilitation is likely a more effective as well as compassionate method to deal with drug users. Drug rehabilitation tends to prevent recidivism 40-60% of the time, in comparison to 10-30% of the time for incarceration. [23][24] However, we should not be permissive, allowing reckless behavior. While drug use is often considered to be a victimless crime, like traffic violations, such as speeding or running stop signs, reckless behavior can endanger others, and lead to higher rates of accidents or violence. If certain behaviors and actions are more likely, but not always certain to injure others, there is still a prescient need for law enforcement to be involved to prevent these reckless acts. While likely not always intentional, drug use is associated with higher rates of violence and crime, and the mechanisms in the brain which decrease self-control and increases proclivities towards crime should not be ignored. While there is a need to balance freedom and security, in my opinion recklessness can be just as immoral and dangerous, producing just as many victims, thus not being justified as a "victimless crime". Homicides make up approximately 15,000 deaths a year, however accidents make up over 160,000, over 10 times higher. [25] Nonetheless, it is for the individual to decide what their opinion's on drug legalization and decriminalization are, but hopefully these figures and data will dispel some rumors and misconceptions on drugs and crime, particularly given that it is a heated political topic.