Introduction
The current study of violence caused by abuse of drugs is based on Goldstein’s theories. According to Goldstein, drug abusers end up indulging in crimes because of the pharmacological outcomes of drugs, as a result of behavior brought about economically, or as a result of drug disbursement. From research carried, it is evident that crime victims and vicious offenders portray the same characteristics. Victims of violence who use drugs are easier to identify because of their unique behaviors, complicated communication signs, and their usual ways of carrying a lump sum of money. Thus, drug abusers are potential victims of violent offenses because of psychopharmacological, systematic or economic obsession (Conaboy, 87).
Psychopharmacological theory of violence
Psychopharmacological theory of violence is all about a drug abuser ingesting psychoactive material that influences him into involvement in violent acts. For example, it has been found out that the drug psychotic behavior of a drug abuser may result in a susceptible, unrestricted condition that causes brutal behavior. Psychopharmacological brutality encompasses the consumption of drugs by the performer, the involved, or both. The probability of a drug leading to uncontrolled behavior is dependent on its psychoactive elements. Among the drugs that lead to violent behavior, heroin contributes the least effects. Among the drugs that lead to violent behavior, heroin contributes the least effects. Benzedrine, memantine and cocaine can also be associated with brutal uncontrolled behavior. However, from research carried on violent causers and victims of violence, alcohol is the leading substance of abuse that leads to hostile behaviors. Actually, victims involved in vicious crimes are more likely to be intoxicated as compared to the victims involved in non-vicious acts.
Economic compelling theory of violence
According to the economic compelling theory of violence, drug abusers indulge in criminal activities that provide them with huge sums of money to enable them to proceed with drug-oriented habits. According to Goldstein, costly drugs like amphetamines prove the economic compelling theory true because they portray aggressive methods of use. Research carried shows that economically compelling drug abusers are not involved distinctively in violent acts; however, their demand for an extra amount of money for enjoyment may lead to them being involved in brutal activities such as robbery. It is also evident that economic compelling brutality is influenced by the background of the area an individual resides (Levesque, 91). For instance, diverse environmental and economic situations have high chances of influencing drug users depending on their topographic positions. Due to lack of enough money, drug abusers from rural areas may involve themselves in crimes in order to get enough money for access to substances of abuse.
Systematic theory of violence
A systematic theory of violence hints that people may slot in brutal uncontrolled habits during the process of selling and distributing drugs. According to Maritt (78 ), areas lacking enough social control mechanisms, suffering from high levels of poverty, and populated with people ever involved in interpersonal violence have high chances of occurrence of systematic violence (Maritt, 87). Systematic violence includes territorial differences, vengeance for inability to pay debts, or eradication of spies. However, there might be a great difference between rural and urban abusers of substances; this is because of the lack of presence of an opportunity for rural individuals to organize their crimes. In addition, drug trafficking varies between rural and urban areas, for instance, in rural areas the common drug abused is marijuana, whereas in urban areas drugs such as cocaine are most abused.
Works Cited
Conaboy, Richard. Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy. New York: DIANE Publishing, 1997. Print.
Levesque, Roger. Encyclopedia of Adolescence. New York: Springer, 2012. Print.
Maritt, Kirst. Converging Disciplines: A Transdisciplinary Research Approach to Urban Health Problems. New York: Springer, 2011. Print.