What’s Age Got to Do With It? Comparing Juveniles and Adults on Drugs and Crime

Abstract

Age and drugs are both well-known correlates of crime, with the age–crime curve being a staple in criminology. However, the relationship between age and crime (especially certain types of crime) is still highly debated. For drug use, the evidence is mixed when it comes to the effects of age. Unfortunately, there is little research on how age affects the relationship between drugs and crime. The current study aims to determine whether there are differences in the relationship between drugs and crime depending on age by conducting the same analysis on a sample of adults and adolescents. The results indicate that there are substantial differences between the adult and juvenile samples, in terms of their drug use and criminal involvement.