The Victimization of Dependent Drug Users

Abstract

This article contributes to the literature on drug users, victimization and offending using data on 545 dependent drug users entering treatment in four European countries. Members of the sample were exposed to high levels of criminal victimization. Sub-groups who were particularly vulnerable to crime were women (and especially sex workers), the homeless, recent offenders and those with a history of poor mental health. Multivariate analysis indicated that frequent drug use, recent offending and histories of depression and anxiety were significantly predictive of violent victimization, and only gender and a history of anxiety were significantly predictive of property victimization. The article discusses how these findings relate to theoretical approaches to victimization, in both positivist and critical frameworks.