A sporting chance?: using sport to tackle drug use and crime

The article critically evaluates the rationale for using sport-focused inte rventions in response to drug use and criminal behaviour amongst young peop le. In addition to reviewing the literature it questions the understandings of sport which typically underpin such interventions. Rather than focusing on contrasts between sport and deviant behaviour, the article draws attent ion to the commonality of sporting and criminal/drug use experiences. Throu gh reference to research conducted around the work of Leyton Orient Communi ty Sports Programme on a Tower Hamlets Drug Challenge Fund Project, a case is made for the use of sport within the framework of holistic community dev elopment interventions in preference to punitive diversionary measures.