A new study sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy finds an association between drug abuse and criminal behavior. The Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program gathered information on drug abuse from adult male arrestees in 10 counties across the country. Denver county was one of those tested. Face-to-face interviews and urinalysis were conducted with the arrestees, whose participation was voluntary and confidential.

The study findings are as follows:

• Drug use among the arrestee population is much higher than in the general U.S. population. Over 50% of all arrestees tested positive for at least one drug. The percentage is higher for younger offenders (age 21 and under, 85%; age 36+ 68%).
• The most common drugs were marijuana, cocaine, opiates and methamphetamine in that order. The lone exception is Atlanta, where the most common drug is cocaine. The urinalysis did not differentiate between cocaine and crack.
• Cocaine use in Denver and Indianapolis has declined since 2007 while remaining stable in the rest of the country.
• Methamphetamine use varies by region. Less than 1% tested positive in the eastern states, slightly higher in the mid-west and highest on the west coast. Sacramento had 35%testing positive.

There is an association between criminal behavior and drug use, but what does it all mean? The association does not show cause and effect. Do criminals use drugs? Do drug users commit crimes? How do we correct these behaviors? The questions still remain. Perhaps future studies with show a cause and effect relationship and lead to a solution.