Drug Abuse :: Substance Abuse Essays

medicine abuse takes a toll on society that can single be partially measured. While we are able to estimate the effect of medicine-related crimes that occur each year, we can never determine fully the extent to which the quality of life in Americas neighborhoods has been diminished by drug-related criminal behavior. With the exception of drug-related homicides, which have declined in recent years, drug-related crime is inveterate at a strong and steady pace. Numerous Drug-Related Arrests Occur from each one Year. In 1994, state and local law enforcement agencies made an estimated 1.14 million arrests for drug law violations. The largest percentage of these arrests were for drug possession (75.1 percent).45 Arrestees Frequently Test unconditional for Recent Drug enforce. The National Institute of Justice Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program calculates the percentage of arrested individuals whose urine indicates drug use. In 1995, DUF data collected from male arrestees in tw enty-three cities showed that the percentage testing haughty for any drug ranged from 51 percent to 83 percent. Female arrestees ranged from 41 percent to 84 percent. Among males, arrestees charged with drug possession or trade were most possible to test decreed for drug use. Among females, arrestees charged with prostitution, drug possession or sale were most likely to test positive for drug use. Both males and females arrested for robbery, burglary, and stealing vehicles had high positive rates.46 Drug Offenders promote the Nations Prisons and Jails. At midyear 1996, there were 93,167 inmates in federal prison houses, 1,019,281 in state prisons, and 518,492 in jails.47 In 1994, 59.5 percent of federal prisoners were drug offenders48 as were 22.3 percent of the inmates in state prisons.49 The increase in drug offenders accounts for well three quarters of the total growth in federal prison inmates since 1980. Most drug offenders are imprisoned for possessing more drugs than po ssibly could be consumed by one individual distributing drugs or committing serious crimes related to drug sales. In 1995, for example, only 4,040 people were sentenced in federal courts for marijuana-related charges 89.1 percent of those offenders were set about trafficking charges.50 Inmates in Federal and State Prisons were often under the Influence of Drugs when they affiliated Offenses. A 1991 survey of federal and state prisons, found that drug offenders, burglars, and robbers in state prisons were the most likely to report being under the act upon of drugs while committing crimes. Inmates in state prisons who had been convicted of homicide, assault, and public order offenses were least likely to report being under the influence of drugs.