Illicit drug use and offending histories: A study of male incarcerated offenders in Australia

Utilizing the self-reported offending and drug use histories of over 2000 incarcerated male prisoners from four Australian jurisdictions, offenders were categorized into different offending typologies based on lifetime criminal behaviour. Eight different crime types were developed and offenders’ reported use of four drugs - cannabis, amphetamines, heroin and cocaine - was examined. The analysis found that the type and level of illicit drug use varied across the different types of offenders. Of those who had used drugs, the rates of poly-drug use were high. Furthermore, most drug using offenders, regardless of crime type, were on average more likely to commit minor offending prior to the onset of illicit drug use. The extent to which offenders attributed drug use to their criminal careers also varied. This article highlights that interventions aimed at drug use alone will have only a limited impact on reducing the likelihood of re-offending.