DIFFERENCES IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BETWEEN HEROIN ABUSERS AND SUBJECTS WITHOUT PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS - ANALYSIS OF 578 DETAINEES IN BILBAO, SPAIN

The association between drug abuse and criminal activity has been deep ly established, but the nature of this relationship is controversial. The incidence and types of criminal activity were analyzed in 837 arre sts of 578 subjects who were also interviewed for psychiatric diagnosi s and evaluation of criminal responsibility. There was a significant p revalence of heroin abuse/dependence (50.5 %) in the sample. Another 1 24 subjects (21.5 %) in whom no psychiatric disorder could be observed were considered as the control group. Heroin abusers were younger (26 years, SD 5.9) than controls (29 years, SD 11.2) and showed some diff erent ethnic characteristics. Heroin abuse/dependence was the most imp ortant risk factor(O.R. = 10.15) for criminal recidivism. Females were more related to nonviolent criminal activity than males. There was a higher incidence of offenses against property among heroin abusers (bu rglary 57.8%; robbery 19.5%) than in the control group (burglary 15.3% robbery 4.8%). In contrast, aggression or resistance to police author ities and nonfatal offenses against persons were more frequent among c ontrols (12% and 13.7%, respectively) than among heroin abusers (3.7% and 3%, respectively). The results of this study confirm the hypothesi s of a relationship between criminal activity and heroin abuse/depende nce, probably based on financial needs. However, the association seems not to be a single and direct cause-effect relationship, as other fac tors show influence on the criminal activity.