THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIMINAL BACKGROUND AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TENDENCY

The relationship between substances abuse and crime is a very complex
process, which requires more accurate studies. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the
criminal background and substance abuse tendency.
Materials & Methods: In this matched case-control study, 120 self-introduced addicts who referred to
addiction clinic of Gorgan Fifth Azar Hospital, and 120 matched in age and sex controls from
ophthalmic clinic were selected through systematic random sampling method. Data gatherring were
performed through a questionnaire and taking interview. T-test, chi square and logistic regression were
used as data analysis process.
Result: 60.8% of cases and 18.6% of controls have a history of alcohol consumption (P-value< 0.05).
Crude odds ratio of a having history of arrest and prisoning was respectively 3.429 (CI: 1.87-6.26) and
5.167 (CI: 2.43-10.97) that was statistically significant. Crude odds ratio of having illegal sexual
relationship and injuries was respectively 0.09 (CI: 0.90-3.51) and 1.94 (CI: 0.88-4.26) that was not
statistically significant (P-value > 0.05).
Conclusion: According to mutual relation between addiction and some criminological characters of
abusers, planning for identification of these relations, and designing preventive programs is necessary