Kids, Crack, and Crime

Abstract

As part of a larger study, 254 crime-involved youths in Miami were interviewed on the street about their drug use, crimes and – in more detail – experiences with crack-cocaine. In this strongly drug- and crime–involved sample, greater participation in the crack business was clearly associated with not only more crack use and more drug sales, but also more frequent use of other drugs and more crimes against property and persons. The criminogenic influence of the crack trade is discussed in relation to both media reports and the classic drugs/crime pattern first identified for heroin users.