The Interrelationship Between Methamphetamines, The Poor and Crime
Methamphetamine is a readily available stimulant drug with effects similar to cocaine. The drug is commonly known as crystal meth, which affects the central nervous system and brain. The drug is commonly administered by smoking (Darke, Torok, Kaye, Ross, & McKetin, 2010).
The interrelationship between methamphetamine, crime and poverty is complex. All users of methamphetamine do not commit crime and are not addicts. Crime and poverty are some of the socio-economic concerns affected by the use of methamphetamine. There is a basic interrelationship between methamphetamine use and crime. It is not legal to manufacture, distribute or posses drugs such as methamphetamine. It is also illegal for an individual to drive after using methamphetamine. However, it is more complicated to discover how crime is interrelated to methamphetamine use. It is not easy to count crimes resulting from the effects of methamphetamine (Hanson, Venturelli & Fleckenstein, 2006)
There is no documentation of violence associated with methamphetamine users or stealing to buy methamphetamine. Most people who use methamphetamine do not necessary commit crimes. However, there is an increase in methamphetamine addiction and consumption among individuals on parole and probation than the public in general. The use of methamphetamine, the existence of crime and poverty are an indication of individuals lacking self-control (Gizzi & Gerkin, 2010).
Those individuals who are willing to try methamphetamine become addicted and this lead to street crimes. The use of methamphetamine does not make an individual poor or a criminal offender; however, it intensifies such results (Valdez, Kaplan, & Curtis, 2007). Furthermore, individuals who use methamphetamine have lower chances of acquiring legitimate education and occupation to secure decent jobs. Environmental factors, poverty and individual lifestyles are some of the factors that determine who will commit a crime and who will use methamphetamine.
There is a difference in behavioral characteristics depending on the quantity of methamphetamine consumption. Excessive consumption of the drug is likely to result in to criminal acts. Research indicates that addicts of methamphetamine are likely to commit crimes. It also suggests that users of the drug are more likely to be under the drug’s influence during arrest and their crimes were as well related to the use of methamphetamine (Darke, Torok, Kaye, Ross, & McKetin, 2010). In addition, users of methamphetamine are said to lack proper jobs thus end up languishing in poverty. Arrest records have indicated that methamphetamine users have always committed other crimes compared to those not using it. According to research, criminals who were under probation had previously used methamphetamine, which led to the criminal activity (Hanson, Venturelli & Fleckenstein, 2006)
Looking at the differences in key dimensions regarding low-self esteem among youth engaging in crimes, we realize that volatile temper and risk were vital factors in assessing the potential of a criminal (Gizzi & Gerkin, 2010). Other factors limit the ability to measure the interrelationship between methamphetamine, poverty and crime. Poverty mediates the interrelationship between methamphetamine use, poverty and crime. Poverty and the use of methamphetamine have a direct correlation with criminal activities.
Conclusion
Although there are many people who try to use methamphetamine, only a few become addicted. Environmental factors such as poverty are used to determine who will become an addict of the drug and who will not. Furthermore, many factors indicate whether an individual who uses methamphetamine will commit a crime. Variables such as unsteady employment and poverty make significant contributions to the reasons for using methamphetamine as well as committing a crime (Darke, Torok, Kaye, Ross, & McKetin, 2010).
References
Darke, S., Kaye, S., Ross, J. Torok, M., & McKetin, R. (2010). Comparative rates of violent
Crime among regular methamphetamine users. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning
Gizzi, M., C. & Gerkin, P. (2010). Methamphetamine use and criminal behavior. Boston: MA.
Pearson Education Inc
Hanson, Venturelli & Fleckenstein (2006). Drugs and Society. New York: Palgrave Macmillan
Valdez, A. Kaplan, C. D. & Curtis, R. L. (2007). Aggressive crime, alcohol and drug abuse, and
Concentrated poverty in urban areas. New York: Palgrave Macmillan
