Smack, crack, and score: two decades of NIDA-funded drugs and crime research at NDRI 1974-1994

Since 1972, National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI) has been fortunate to have on its staff outstanding researchers involved in studying the relationship between drugs and criminality. This paper describes federally-funded research conducted by them. The drug-crime nexus has been an ongoing focus along with drug-user treatment evaluation and AIDS research. Over the two decades, NDRI has had about 20 major "drugs and crime" grants. Key research findings are presented from studies related to violent and nonviolent crime; prison-based treatment; drug use detection; and the use and distribution of heroin, crack, and methadone.

Alcohol-related homicides committed by women

In this paper we use data derived from interviews with female homicide offenders either incarcerated or on parole in New York to examine those cases (N=35) that the respondents believed were related to their use of alcohol at the time of the homicide. We found four basic types of these homicides based on victim-offender relationships and the circumstances of the incidents. Women who committed each type of alcohol-related homicide reported a variety of motives for committing these acts. We also found that there were similarities and differences between the types, not only in terms of the kinds of motives reported but also in terms of the extent to which planning was involved. Likewise, there were similarities and differences between the different types of homicides regarding the type and amount of alcohol and other drugs used by respondents on the day of the incident, and regarding respondents' perceptions of the alcohol-relatedness of the events. The implications of our findings are discussed.

Drugs and homicide by women

In this paper we use data derived from interviews with 215 female homicide offenders incarcerated or on parole in New York to examine their drug use prior to and at the time of the homicide, their victims' drug use, and their perceptions as to the drug-relatedness of the homicides. We found that about 7 out of 10 respondents had been regular users of some drug at some point in their lives prior to their incarceration, while over half had been addicted to a substance. Over one-third of the respondents who were present at the scene were "high" on a drug at the time, while about half of the victims of these homicides used drugs before the homicide. Almost two-thirds of the homicides committed by respondents who were present at the scene were perceived to be drug-related. Alcohol, crack, and powdered cocaine were the drugs most likely to be related to these homicides. The implications of our findings are discussed.

Drug use by homicide offenders

This article uses data derived from interviews with 268 homicide offenders incarcerated in New York State correctional facilities to examine their drug use prior to and at the time of the homicide, and their perceptions as to whether and how the homicides were related to their drug use. Most respondents who used a drug were not hard-core users of that drug. About one in five of the respondents could be considered polydrug abusers. Thirty percent of the sample believed that the homicide was related to their drug use. Alcohol was the drug most likely to be implicated in these homicides. The implications of this research are discussed.