“I was high on drugs when I did it.” That’s the story countless police officers and prosecutors hear from offenders as they admit to their crimes. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Drug abuse is implicated in at least three types of drug-related offenses,” including the following:
- Drug possession or sales,
- Offenses involving drug abuse, such as stealing to get money for drugs, and
- Offenses that relate to a lifestyle that predisposes the drug user to be involved in illegal activity.
“Individuals who use illicit drugs are more likely to commit crimes, and it is common for many offenses, including violent crimes, to be committed by individuals who had used drugs or alcohol prior to committing the crime, or who were using at the time of the offense,” according to the NIDA. The NIDA reports:
- In 2012, there were approximately 6,937, 600 prisoners in the United States, with 4,794,000 offenders on probation or parole. The most common type of criminal offense involved a drug violation.
- In 2008, about 10 percent of the nation’s 2.1 million juvenile offenders were arrested for drug or alcohol abuse offenses.
According to the NIDA, when offenders are released they face the following potential risk factors that can return them to drug abuse:
1) pressure from friends and family to go back to drug use or return to a lifestyle involving criminal behavior,
2) violent associates,
3) tensions from daily life,
4) a lack of opportunity for legitimate employment, and
5) not enough safe housing, etc.
To learn more about “Drugs and Crime,” click here to read data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. “Alcohol and drugs are implicated in an estimated 80% of offenses leading to incarceration in the United States such as domestic violence, driving while intoxicated, property offenses, drug offenses, and public-order offenses,” according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD).
As criminal defense attorneys, we’ve noticed this trend as well, which is why we help clients focus on a rehabilitative approach whenever possible. If you’re facing criminal charges in Plano or Dallas for a crime that was fueled by drugs or alcohol, we urge you to contact The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC to discuss your defense options.