Survey of factors related to criminal behavior in a sample of Iranian substance abusers.
OBJECTIVE
Many countries including Iran have a high rate of substance abuse. It is essential for public health and law enforcement strategies to know the causes and consequences of substance abuse and its relation to crimes.


METHODS
In a prospective case-control study, covering a period of one year starting from March 21, 2010, 125 cases with criminal behavior and 125 cases with no history of criminal behavior were studied.


RESULTS
Eight percent of our studied population had a previous history of psychological disorder. Most of our cases were cigarette users (78.4%). Forty-two cases had a history of alcohol abuse (16.8%). Modern drugs were the most common type of drugs (56%) being used. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression revealed that criminal behavior was correlated with divorce (RR = 5.35; 95% CI = 1.59-16.01; P = 0.023), history of alcohol use (RR = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.11-6.22; P = 0.027), history of psychological disorder (RR = 4.97; 95% CI = 1.44-17.20; P = 0.011), Modern drug use (RR = 4.86; 95% CI = 2.01-11.76; P = 0.001) and starting drug abuse at an early age (RR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.88-0.99; P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors for criminal behavior among substance abusers include being divorced, history of alcohol abuse, history of psychological disorder, modern drug abuse and starting drug abuse at an early age.
Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Group, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran; Department of Clinical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Ghaffari Avenue, Birjand 97175-379, Iran.
Omid
O
Mehrpour
Parissa
P
Karrari
Ardeshir
A
Sheikhazadi
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003415:Crime; D004243:Divorce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
Addiction; Criminal behavior; Iran; Substance abuse