THE SEVERITY OF PREADDICTION CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AMONG URBAN, MALE NARCOTIC ADDICTS AND 2 NONADDICTED CONTROL-GROUPS

This study compared cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in the se verity of criminal behavior from ages 11 through 14 among three groups of urban males: narcotic addicts and two distinctly different control groups. One never-addicted control group (peer controls) were selecte d from peers who were associates of the addicts at age 11. A second ne ver-addicted control group (community controls) was drawn from age-11 male residents of the community at large who were not associates of th e addicts. Results indicated clear differences in the criminal behavio r patterns of the three subject groups, with addicts reporting the gre atest, and community controls the least, involvement in crime in early adolescence at all levels of severity. In addition, within the addict sample, involvement in crime at each severity level was inversely rel ated to age at onset of narcotic addiction. Further the addicts, regar dless of age of onset, are distinguished from controls by noteworthy i ncreases in the proportions of subjects involved in crime, especially at the highest severity level. The implications of the findings for fu ture research and early intervention are discussed