Heroin use and criminal careers

The relationship between heroin use and crime has been the subject of continuing debate. While the principle focus of this debate has been the causal nexus between heroin and crime, a related controversy exists regarding the nature of addict criminality. Some have argued that heroin addicts are impulsive and opportunistic criminals, while others maintain that addicts are sophisticated criminal entrepreneurs. The present study based on career history interviews with 30 hard core street addicts, suggests that both positions may be relevant at different times in the addict's career. These addicts clearly identified a preferred main hustle, but did find it necessary to deviate from their main hustle at various times in their careers. This paper seeks to identify those conditions under which addicts are likely to maintain and, conversely, deviate from established patterns of criminality.This research was supported in part by DHEW Grant No. 1 R01 DA01827 from the Division of Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse. Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. I would like to thank Carl Klockars for his meticulous guidance through various drafts of this paper.