7 Pages
1691 Words
Introduction: Exploring Factors Linking Drug Addiction to Crime and Solutions
A higher distribution of drugs has also created the chances of violence around the globe. This is a complex phenomenon that diversely impacts society's social, cultural, geographical, and biological aspects in human civilisation (North Jersey Recovery, 2022). The main cause of conducting the current research regarding the topic is to find the main aspects regarding the relationship between the gradually rising crime rate around the globe and addiction to drugs among people in society (Cliffs Notes, 2022). The research topic has higher socio-cultural significance in the current time, where the rate of criminal activities around the globe has been rising gradually and, generally, young people get victimised by addiction to drugs and involved in heinous crimes (A.B., 2023).
Aim and Objectives
Aim
- To make a clear understanding of the interrelationship between drug use and criminal behaviour among people.
Objectives
- To evaluate the psychological domain of the interrelationship between drug use and criminal behaviour among people.
| Population (P) |
Acute drug addicts from different socio-cultural and financial aspects. |
| RQ1 |
How do certain external and internal factors contribute to drug abuse that leads to the development of a criminal mindset among individuals? |
| Interest (I) |
The interrelationship between drug usage among people causes the rising rate of criminal activities around the globe. |
| RQ2 |
What are the psychological impacts of drug addiction and associated influential factors in the development of criminal behaviours? |
| Context (Co) |
The contextual aspects regarding the strategical solution to decrease the gradually increasing crime rate due to drug addiction. |
| RQ 3 |
How, from a psychological therapeutic aspect and through public primary sociological interventions, can this issue be addressed? |
- To understand the main causes of the increasing number of drug addicts in society and how the criminality in their behaviour gets set in due to acute addiction.
- To define the most effective strategy regarding the solution to this situation and how these contextual solutions impact positively on human behaviour.
Literature Review
The psychological effects of drug addiction have a long-term and complex influence on addicts, as it affects their conscious thinking, attention, impulse control and emotion regulation (Fox, Karim and Syed, 2020). The literature signifies that drug abuse has been found to escalate various psychological problems, which in turn worsen the inclination to criminality. Research evidence suggests that the drug-induced brain chemistry changes can be the cause of increased aggression, risk-taking behaviours, and the deficit in the ability to empathise, all of which are the key factors that stimulate criminal activities. The section will here look into how addiction could be a cause for a criminal mindset; perhaps such individuals in their pursuit of drugs would engage in criminal acts as a means to support their habits or as a result of their drug-induced paranoia or aggressiveness.
This section of the literature review would explore the multifaceted factors contributing to drug abuse and the subsequent development of criminal behaviours. Research indicates that external factors such as socioeconomic status, peer pressure, and availability of drugs play significant roles in drug addiction. Internal factors, including genetic predisposition, mental health disorders, and personal trauma, also contribute significantly to the likelihood of drug use and the potential for engaging in criminal activities. Studies suggest that the interplay between these external and internal factors creates a complex pathway leading individuals down a road that often intersects with criminal behaviour, highlighting the need for comprehensive approaches to intervention (Tharshini et al., 2021).
Method
Bringing interpretivism philosophy into the research on the relationship between drug addiction and criminal behaviour is a way for more elaborate understanding of this complicated issue. Interpretivism highlights the significance of the subjective experiences and the meanings individuals construct in reference to their behaviours and social contexts.
Along with that, the researchers also have followed the inductive research approach in conducting the research that will also suggest a systematic set of valid raw data sources for the research and also help to evaluate the data effectively to conduct the research successfully (Coursesidekick, 2024).
Ethical considerations are a set of principles that guide research practices and designs. These guidelines often correlate to the moral perspectives of the methods of researchers to treat several participants.
Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria
| Criteria |
Inclusion |
Exclusion |
| Time Frame |
Studies published in the last 10 years |
Studies published more than 10 years ago |
| Population |
Studies focusing on acute drug addicts from diverse socio-cultural and financial backgrounds |
Studies focusing on occasional drug users or populations without specified drug addiction issues |
| Geographical Location |
Studies conducted worldwide |
Studies with unclear geographical context |
| Language |
Studies published in English |
Studies published in languages other than English without available translations |
| Study Design |
Qualitative studies (e.g., interviews, ethnographies), quantitative studies (e.g., surveys, statistical analyses), and mixed-methods studies |
Editorials, opinion pieces, and reviews without original data |
| Outcome Measures |
Studies examining the relationship between drug addiction and criminal behavior, psychological impacts of drug addiction, and effectiveness of therapeutic/sociological interventions |
Studies focusing solely on pharmacological aspects of drug addiction without addressing broader social or psychological implications |
| Interventions |
Studies evaluating psychological therapies, community programs, and policy interventions aimed at reducing drug-related crime |
Studies focusing on interventions not directly related to drug addiction (e.g., general crime prevention strategies) |
| Publication Type |
Peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and government reports |
Non-peer-reviewed articles, blogs, and non-academic publications |
Anticipated Findings
Drugs and related substances mostly relate to crime in multiple procedures. It is considered to utilize and possess, manufacture or distribute drugs that are categorized as having a possibility for abuse. Cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and amphetamines are instances of different drugs that are classified as having the capacity to make a person abusive or engaged in some criminal practices. The desired outcome of this research is to detect the actual relationship between criminal offences and drug users. This study intends to get the actual reasons for committing crimes by drug users.
Research Timeline
| Research Activities |
Time (In-Days) |
| 1. Background Study |
5 |
| 2. Determination of research objectives and question-forming |
5 |
| 3. Determining research methods |
2 |
| 4. Secondary Data Collection |
10 |
| 5. Data sorting and selection |
15 |
| 6. Data Interpretation |
2 |
| 7. Data Analysis |
35 |
| 8. Making Conclusion |
5 |
| 9. Submission for feedback |
1 |
| 10. Working on feedback and final submission |
5 |
Table 2: Work distribution
Gantt chart
| Activities |
Weeks |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
Background Study
|
|
Determining Research objectives and forming questions
|
|
Determining research methods
|
|
Secondary Data Collection
|
|
Data sorting and selection
|
|
Data Interpretation
|
|
Data Analysis
|
|
Making Conclusion
|
|
Submission for feedback
|
|
Working on feedback and final submission
|
Table 3: Gantt chart
References
- Tharshini, N.K., Ibrahim, F., Kamaluddin, M.R., Rathakrishnan, B. and Che Mohd Nasir, N. (2021). The Link between Individual Personality Traits and Criminality: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, [online] 18(16), p.8663. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168663.
- Coursesidekick (2024). Drug use and crime. [online] Coursesidekick.com. Available at: https://www.coursesidekick.com/sociology/184377 [Accessed 22 Feb. 2024].
- A.B (2023). ‘Exploring the Relationship between Drug Abuse and Criminal Behavior: An Empirical Analysis' - An Example Sample Project Proposal. [online] How to Apply for Grants. Available at: https://howtoapplyforgrants.com/sample-ngo-or-nonprofit-grant-proposals/exploring-the-relationship-between-drug-abuse-and-criminal-behavior-an-empirical-analysis-an-example-sample-project-proposal/ [Accessed 22 Feb. 2024].
- Cliffsnotes (2022). Drugs and Crime. [online] www.cliffsnotes.com. Available at: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/criminal-justice/crime/drugs-and-crime.
- Northjerseyrecovery (2022). New Jersey Rehab and Recovery Center That Really Works! [online] North Jersey Recovery Center. Available at: https://northjerseyrecovery.com/what-is-correlation-between-drug-and-crime/.
- Fox, H.C., Karim, A. and Syed, S.A. (2020). Bio-Behavioral Indices of Emotion Regulation: Potential Targets for Treatment in Addiction. Current Addiction Reports, 7(3), pp.333–343. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00330-y.
