The drug-crime nexus in a community sample of adults

The authors tested several theories using prospective data to explain the a ssociations between drug abuse and crime in a community sample of 470 adult s. Polydrug problems in early adulthood predicted both criminal behavior an d polydrug problems in adulthood. Consequences of drug problems as a young adult included arrests and convictions for drug-related offenses, property damage, and driving under the influence of other drugs. Predictors of later polydrug problems included thefts, driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, arrests and convictions for drug-related offenses, and a l ack of support for drug problems. Theoretical implications of these finding s are discussed.