There are a number of ways that drugs are linked to crime in Texas and throughout the United States. In the U.S., it’s illegal to possess, use, manufacture, sell or distribute drugs that have a high potential for abuse – this includes many prescription medications, such as narcotic pain relievers.
“Cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and amphetamines are examples of drugs classified to have abuse potential,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Drugs are closely linked to various criminal acts because of how they affect the user’s judgement and behavior. Not only that, but drugs are connected to violence, sexual assault, theft, animal abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, and other illegal activities.
Drug-Related Offenses
Drugs are heavily regulated; therefore, many of the drug-related offenses deal with illegal possession, manufacturing, cultivation, sales, delivery, and trafficking of controlled substances. Examples include marijuana cultivation, prescription drug fraud, methamphetamine production, heroin and cocaine sales.
Drugs and Criminal Behavior
Many drug offenses are motivated by the user’s need to fuel their addiction. Since users need money to support their habit, they will often display violent behavior, and they’ll steal so they can get the money they need to buy more drugs. Even drug addicted parents can sell their children to human traffickers to buy drugs, or force their children into prostitution to obtain drug money. Another issue is gang violence between rival drug dealers.
“Data collected from male arrestees in 1992 in 24 cities showed that the percentage testing positive for any drug ranged from 42% to 79% across cities,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The data found that 38% to 85% of female arrestees tested positive for drugs. Of those, the females who were arrested for prostitution or drug possession or sales were the most likely to test positive for drugs.
Are you facing criminal or drug-related charges in Plano, Dallas or Fort Worth? If you feel that substance abuse was connected, we’d like to help.Contact our firm today.