Heroin Use, Crime and Employment Status

Abstract

The impact of employment on addict criminality is examined with data from interviews with 544 daily heroin users in five American cities. Addict criminality is examined across employment levels, occupational categories and crime types. The hypothesis that increased employment level and occupational status should inhibit criminal involvement vis a vis increased legitimate income is only partially supported. These findings further suggest that both drug use and criminal behavior are manifestations of a broader social involvement in the subculture of drug use. Likewise, employment represents more than simply a source of income, but rather constitutes a dynamic social feature of the subculture which may impact on criminality in various ways.