Stimulants and crime

DEFINITION: Broad group of substances that share the capacity to activate and excite the human central and peripheral nervous systems as well as the cardiovascular system.

SIGNIFICANCE: Many people make regular use of nonmedical, legal stimulants such as caffeine, but stimulants are also often misused. Crimes related to the use and distribution of illicit stimulants—including fraud, forgery, robbery, and even murder—occupy many of the resources of law-enforcement agencies and are costly to society.

Drugs that have stimulant properties are many in number and varied in form. All forms of and are classified as stimulants, including concoctions that can be created in small clandestine labs, such as methcathinone, made from amphetamine and cathinone, and the street drug known as crystal or ice, a kin of made from seemingly innocuous and easily available ingredients. Other drugs that stimulate the nervous and cardiovascular systems include widely used substances such as nicotine and caffeine as well as less commonly known substances such as khat leaves (the leaves of the plant Catha edulis), which are chewed to deliver mild stimulating effects.

Use and Abuse

Stimulant drugs have a limited number of legitimate uses, such as in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Appetite-suppressing drugs (also known as anorectics) used in the treatment of obesity are also stimulants, as are drugs used in the treatment of narcolepsy, a disorder characterized by random immediate onset of sleep. Stimulants are not widely employed in the treatment of other medical problems, as the use of these drugs has not received much support in terms of the balance of benefits over risks. The primary risks of stimulant use include raised blood pressure and the possibility of the development of a substance-use disorder, such as abuse or dependence.

Stimulants have addiction potential because they are reinforcing drugs. Users typically experience feelings of euphoria and power, decreased need for sleep, relief from fatigue, decreased appetite, increased talkativeness, and increased energy. These effects alone qualify stimulants for classification as performance-enhancing drugs, not only for athletes but also for others who may need these benefits, such as workers who need to stay awake during long shifts or long-distance truck drivers. For individuals who are easily distracted, such as those with ADHD, stimulants also tend to decrease distractibility, allowing them to focus their attention. In addition, stimulants may increase sexual interest and excitement and, because of decreased fatigue, improve sexual performance.

The typical routes of administration for recreational stimulants (nasal inhalation, inhalation through smoking, and intravenous injection) tend to promote rapid effects on the body and strengthen the association of taking the drugs with its effects. In general, the quicker a drug takes effect, the easier it is for the body and mind to associate the drug with the experienced pleasure and the greater the addiction potential.

According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a report issued in 2023 from the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1.5 percent of Americans aged 12 and older misused prescription stimulants in 2022. The highest rate was among young people between the ages of 18 and 25 (3.7 percent). As a whole, about 10.2 million people used either legal or illegal stimulants in 2022. Of that figure, 5.3 million people used cocaine, 4.3 million misused prescription stimulants, and 2.7 million used methamphetamine.

Dangers and

The problems associated with stimulant use are numerous. Aside from the desirable effects described above, stimulant intoxication can cause much less attractive effects, including paranoia, anxiety, panic, psychosis, rapid pulse rate, hyperalertness, restlessness, insomnia, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, aggression, violence, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. It is not uncommon for stimulant use to be associated with crimes related to personal and interpersonal injury, assaults, and accidents.

Stimulant abusers often suffer physical problems such as worn-down teeth (from bruxism, or teeth grinding), injuries from the compulsive repetitive handling or manipulation of objects or the body (for example, facial picking), arrhythmias, heart damage, and even seizures. When withdrawing from stimulants, individuals may experience feelings of confusion and depression, increased fatigue, and other symptoms.

Many of the symptoms of stimulant use, abuse, and dependence mimic the problems of other mental health disorders. Because of this, persons who seek help for such symptoms resulting from stimulant use are often treated as if they have some of these other problems. For example, they may be treated initially for sleep problems, anxiety, depression, or psychosis with drugs such as sleep aids, antianxiety agents, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. As they cease stimulant use and detoxify, their symptoms often resolve or decrease, and they consequently can stop these treatments. In some cases, however, after chronic stimulant use, the damage done can be more lasting, and treatments may need to be maintained.

Legal Issues and Crime

The manufacturers, distributors, and end users of illegal stimulants are all participants in various forms of crime. Manufacturers take part in the illegal procurement of component parts of these drugs and threaten the public health with the dangerous conditions they create in clandestine labs (where poor ventilation can lead to explosions or fires) and with the toxic chemicals they dump into the environment. They also commit crimes such as battery, assault, and at times to protect their illegal labs from being discovered or disturbed.

Once the drugs are made, illegal trafficking and sales become part of the picture, as does the potential for money laundering and other financial crimes. For end users, crimes related to intoxication are common, including driving under the influence, as are acts of violence and aggression related to and other psychological effects. Stimulant users sometimes commit crimes as a result of drug-induced feelings of power and euphoria, which may lead them to believe they are smarter than everyone else and can break laws without fear of being caught. Such users may commit fraud, forgery, crimes of opportunity, and even murder.

Bibliography

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