Explaining the effectiveness of heroin-assisted treatment on crime reductions.
This study examines the relationship between heroin-assisted treatment versus methadone maintenance and the criminal activity of 1,015 individuals participating in a German model project. The main objective is to investigate how these treatments contribute to a decline of criminal behavior. The analyses are based upon self-reported criminal offence and police data on alleged criminals. Logistic regression is employed to explain the variance in the 12-month prevalence 1 year after program admission. The results clearly show a decline of criminal offences among participants receiving maintenance treatment; this decline was significantly greater in the heroin group with respect to property crimes and drug offences. The multivariate analysis reveals that the effects are due to a decrease of illegal drug use and absence from the drug scene.
Löbmann
Rebecca
R
Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony, Hanover, Germany. loebmann@fh-wuerzburg.de
Verthein
Uwe
U
D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone