title: Substance use pattern, self-control and social network are associated with crime in a substance-using population.
abstract: Crime rates are high in substance-using populations; therefore, investigation of factors associated with crime in these populations is highly relevant. We describe crime prevalence and associations between crime, pattern of substance use and psychosocial factors, such as self-control and social network.
  
  
  
  This is a cross-sectional study including substance users (n = 549; mean age 34 years; 27% women) entering treatment at 21 treatment centres across Norway (December 2012 to April 2015). Data on demographics, substance use, psychosocial variables and crime in the 6 months prior to treatment were obtained through interviews. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated through logistic regression.
  
  
  
  Sixty-four percent of participants had committed crime in the 6 months prior to treatment. Of these, 93% committed income-generating crime. Several factors were associated with increased likelihood of having committed crime: use of stimulants (aOR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.04-3.17), use of a higher number of different substances (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.31) and spending most of their time with family or friends using addictive substances (aOR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.10-5.16 and aOR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.32-3.73). Protective factors associated with decreased likelihood of committing crime were being older (aOR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.97) and having higher self-control (aOR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.97).
  
  
  
  Stimulant use, higher number of different substances used, lower self-control, primarily a substance-using social network and being younger were associated with crime in this substance-using population. Treatment clinics should consider these risk factors for crime, and suitable interventions should be implemented and evaluated. [Skjaervø I, Skurtveit S, Clausen T, Bukten A. Substance use pattern, self-control and social network are associated with crime in a substance-using population. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:245-252].
authors.affiliation: SERAF, Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingeborg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skjaervø
authors.affiliation: SERAF, Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.|Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skurtveit
authors.affiliation: SERAF, Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.affiliation: SERAF, Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bukten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D000068356:Self-Control; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants
keywords: behaviour; crime; social network; substance use treatment; substance-related disorders