title: Getting by with a little help from your friends: the impact of peer networks on criminality in a cohort of treatment-seeking drug users.
abstract: This study investigates the links between social networks of drug users and criminal activity. Opiate misusers (n=128) receiving in-patient treatment were interviewed about substance use, social networks, and crime in the month before treatment. Almost 60% of participants reported an average of more than 70 crimes each. Less than one-fifth of the subjects spent no time with other users, while just over half spent either "quite a lot" or "a lot" of time with drug users. Time with users increased the risk of crime. Spending no time with users provided a protective effect. Time with criminally involved drug users was associated with greater levels of crime. Social networks represent an important marker for integration in criminal networks in treatment-seeking drug users and a long-term barrier to rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: National Addiction Centre, Maudsley Hospital/Institute of Psychiatry, 4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK. d.best@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernando
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gossop
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sidwell
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*