Principle of Criminal Justice.

I'm choosing question 1 for my assignment. CNB figures show that new abusers arrested tended to be young and middle-class. Why do you think people are drawn to drug-taking behaviours? The two articles are references for the analysis.

Principle of Criminal Justice
7/19/2019
Student’s Name

Principle of Criminal Justice 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

Principle of Criminal Justice 2
Introduction
Criminal behavior is very prevalent in society. Different types of crimes are there that
involves people from different age groups. For the preparation of this report, drug abuse and
substance behavior are selected as a topic of study. Police used to arrest drug abusers and the
central narcotic bureau is the agency responsible to coordinate and handle all matters related to
drug eradication (Cnb.gov.sg, 2019). Not only the drug abusers but other people also get
influence by such crime. The ramifications of this crime extend far beyond the individual drug
abuser as social and health consequences of the same fetal disruptions and crime in educational,
workplace and family environment. In the presented report, the discussion will be made on a
recent report of Central Narcotics Bureau (hereinafter referred to as CNB) on drug abusers statics
and reasons behind the drug-taking behavior of people. This behavior will be explained with the
help of some criminal theories. Lastly, a conclusion will be drawn upon in order to conclude the
report.
Discussion
As mentioned in the introduction section, many negative consequences are there of drug
abuse and this is the reason that this crime is a matter of concern. The crime became more
concerned when it was found under a report of CNB that mostly youth is involved in this crime.
As per the findings of CNB, around two-third of the drug, abusers were under 30. However, a
number of drug abusers fall down to 3089 in 2017, in comparison to 2016, where the number
was 3265 yet the situation is a matter of concern (Channelnewsasia.com, 2019). The reason for
this concern is that nearly 40 percent of the total arrested abusers were new abusers. The total

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number of new abusers was 1249 and out of which around 64% had age less than 30 years.
These statistics can be better understood by having a close look at the following diagram:-
(Mei, 2018)
By having a look at the subjective diagram, it is far clear that the number of new drug
abusers is increasing year by year. In this manner, it is clear that people are getting the habit of
taking drugs. Now in such a scenario, it is required to understand the reasons behind such habit.
Are all of the criminals are influenced by the same factor or not. Here in order to understand the
reason behind drug abuse behavior, this is to state that some theories work behind such behavior.
These theories detail the development and changes in criminal behavior and changes. The very
first theory, which seems to be connected with drug abuse and substance, is stain theory.
American sociologist Robert K. Merton has developed this theory (Tibbetts & Hemmens, 2009).
While developing this theory Robert used inductive reasoning. He reviewed the crime statistics
by class and it has been found by the study that people from the lower social and economic
background are more likely to be involved in crime. As per this theory, people often commit a
crime when they experience a certain strain in their lives. It means according to this theory
people commit a crime when they feel anger, frustration, and other negative emotions. In order to
reduce or escalate such negative emotions, people commit a crime. Drug abuse seems to be

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closely connected with this theory. In a study, it has been concluded that negative emotions such
as early victimization and others increase the frequency of drug use (Carson, Sullivan, Cochran,
& Lersch 2008). A direct, as well as the indirect relationship between early victimization and
drug use, has been identified with the help of strain theory. People consumer drugs as they think
it will reduce their frustration and this is the reason that the behavior and practice are more
prevalent in youth. Anomie theory is another important theory of criminology. Émile Durkheim
has developed the theory. The term Anomie refers to social conditions (Baumer, 2016). As per
this theory, every individual has certain issues in life and somewhere is in states of war with
others. A bundle of social facts is there which describe social tendencies and further determine
individual qualities. The anomie affects deviance behavior as a study conducted in past shows
that anomie is correlated with several drug variables. Robert Merton, American sociologist
applied this theory to drug abuse in the context of a situation when there is a difference between
socially approved objectives and means of obtaining those objectives. The theory states that if a
person fails to achieve the set goals as per the norms of the society then there is a chance the
person may be driven to use drugs or alcohol. People use these substances with the purpose to
escape the pressure of not obtaining life goals or not fulfilling expectations of society that they
should have fulfilled.
Theory provided by Edwin E Sutherland is another important theory that is also known as
the theory of differential association (Hepburn, 2013). As per this theory, a person gets his/her
behavior through association or interaction with others. If to apply this theory in the context of
drug behavior, this is to state that people learn this habit through interaction with other people.
The learning occurs within a personal group by way of communication. The theory further
confirms that learning includes the special direction of motives, attitudes, rationalization, and

Principle of Criminal Justice 5
technique of drug use. In a summarized way this is to state, that strain theory believes that people
drawn to drug behavior because of their negative emotions. Anomie theory states that people use
drugs when they fail to fulfill their life goals and society’s expectations. Lastly, Differential
Association Theory believes people become like their surroundings and learn drug abuse form
there only.
Apart from these theories, some other reasons are also there which are mentioned as
follow:-
 Curiosity: - As mentioned above, youth is getting engages in drug behavior, the main
reason behind this is their curiosity towards new things. Many teenagers have a curiosity
that how drugs feel like and to want to get new experiences (Drugabuse.com, 2019).
However, they know drugs are harmful yet they do not believe that anything can happen
to them.
 Low self-esteem:- During high school, many of the teenagers feel low esteem because of
their physical appearances and other personal issues. They lose their confidence and do
not want to face the situation. In such a scenario, they take help of drugs to run away
from the situation as it gives quick relief to their thoughts (Alavi, 2011).
 Genetics: - Whenever it comes to the study of criminal behavior, genetics plays an
important role. If there is a family history of alcoholism or drug abuse and addiction, then
there are more chances that they can be involved in drug abuse and similar practices.
Social surroundings and environment affect behavior of people.
 Poverty:- The factor exists in cases of middle and poor class families. They are not able
to fulfill their basic needs and yet experience frustration. They do not have enough

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money to fulfill their and family member’s demands. Because of this reason, they take
drugs
 Addiction:- This is one of the major reason behind drug behavior of people. This is a
repetition of the behavior. Most of the people consumer drugs because they become
addicted (Drugabuse.gov, 2019). As per the report of CNB, 40% of drug abusers are new,
that 60% are old. These are people are those who become addicted to drug use and repeat
this habit in their behavior. Their addiction is the root cause of their behavior.
Conclusion
In order to conclude this report, this is to state that drug abuse is becoming a very
significant issue in society it mainly includes the young population of society. In this report, date
from CNB report has been discussed. A further focus was also been made to different
criminological theories. These theories state the manner in which a criminal behavior gets to
develop in a person. Three theories have been discussed namely strain theory, Anomie, and
differential n association. Further, these theories have been understood in the context of drug
abuse and substance behavior. Here this would not be wrong to state that although many reasons
are there some of them are more important than others. For instance, personal strain and curiosity
seem to be the lead reason for drug behavior in youth. Similarly, poverty and frustration motivate
middle-class people to consume drugs. However, the reasons are different but criminal theories
are applicable in the same manner to all drug abusers.

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References
Alavi, H. R. (2011). The role of self-esteem in tendency towards drugs, theft and
prostitution. Addiction & health, 3(3-4), 119.
Baumer, E., P. (2016). Anomie. Retrieved
from:https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396607/obo-
9780195396607-0006.xml
Carson, D. C., Sullivan, C. J., Cochran, J. K., & Lersch, K. M. (2008). General strain theory and
the relationship between early victimization and drug use. Deviant Behavior, 30(1), 54-
88.
Channelnewsasia.com. (2019) Number of drug abusers arrested falls in 2017. Retrieved from:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/number-of-drug-abusers-arrested-
falls-in-2017-cnb-9927886
Cnb.gov.sg. (2019). A Brief History of the Central Narcotics Bureau. Retrieved from:
https://www.cnb.gov.sg/about-us
Drugabuse.com. (2019). 11 Real Reasons Why Teenagers Experiment with Drugs. Retrieved
from: https://drugabuse.com/11-real-reasons-teenagers-experiment-drugs/
Drugabuse.gov. (2019). Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. Retrieved from:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-
misuse-addiction

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Hepburn, J. R. (2013). Get Dirty WSC Conference, 2013, Berkeley, California. W. Criminology
Rev., 14, 1.
Mei, T., T. (2018). Though fewer drug abusers were nabbed last year, the proportion of new
young users is a concern. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-
crime/nearly-two-thirds-of-new-drug-abusers-under-30
Tibbetts, S., G. & Hemmens, C. (2009) Criminological Theory: A Text/Reader. SAGE.