Revealed: Criminology expert on why addiction linked to offending

A Toowoomba criminology expert has revealed some of the startling reasons people turn to drugs, and how this addiction can, in turn, lead to serious offending.

Dr Suzanne Reich, USQ Criminologist.

A criminology expert has revealed some of the reasons people turn to drugs and why addiction can lead to offending.

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ)’s senior lecturer for criminology and criminal justice Suzanne Reich said drug addiction and offending was more common in regional and remote areas, rather than cities.

She said this was due to many factors including mental health, social isolation, education, employment and housing affordability, among others.

“All of these things that are also associated with drug use are often influenced and exacerbated by living in a regional, remote or very remote area,” Dr Reich said.

“Last year when Covid happened, many people were losing their jobs, which then influenced greater use of illicit drugs particularly in remote areas.”

According to data obtained from QPS, 4357 drug offences have been recorded in the Darling Downs in the past 12 months, 1903 of which occurred in the local government area of Toowoomba.

Shockingly, drug related offences are currently the second highest type of offending in Toowoomba, falling only behind theft with 2811 incidents recorded over the same time frame.

While figures from the Queensland Crime Annual Statistical Review showed there had been a 9% increase in the number of drug related offences between 2015 and 2016.

The Queensland Advisory Council released a report titled Sentencing Spotlight on Possession of Dangerous Drugs, which looked at the outcomes finalised in Queensland courts between July 2005 and June 2016.

The report revealed people who’s highest offence was drug possession, had been charged with other offences including possession of utensils, resisting arrest, offensive behaviour and breach of bail.

While others who’s highest offences were manufacturing or cultivating drugs, dealing or trafficking illicit drugs, receiving stolen property, break and entering and possession or use of prohibited weapons, were still charged with drug possession.

“A part of that report looked at people charged with possession of dangerous drugs and what other offences were associated with that offending,” Dr Reich said.

“I draw two conclusions from these findings and that is when possession is the most serious offence, it is likely to occur in conjunction with or because of drug use, because they are unable to think rationally and make good choices when under the influence of a substance.

“For that second group where the most serious offence is associated with drug possession, but that’s not the most serious charge, this indicates those behaviours align with instrumental offending.

“As an example, if someone is manufacturing drugs, they are likely doing it to generate their own supply, pay off a drug debt or support a drug habit.”

Dr Reich said trauma was another common reason behind drug addictions and offending.

“Quite often we find people in prison who at some stage in their lives were victimised and did not receive an adequate response to help them through their traumatic experience,” Dr Reich said.

“Most people in life experienced a trauma of some kind but we all respond to it in different ways and some people will respond by using drugs and alcohol or by offending, which isn’t the best coping mechanism.”