Résumé
Methamphetamine use
among Australian police detainees is
rising; the impact of this rise on crime
trends, and particularly on trends in
acquisitive crime, is yet to be
established. Identifying trends in and
motivations for offending among
methamphetamine users may assist law
enforcement and policymakers to
better target resources.
This paper examines the engagement
in acquisitive crime, and perceived
motivations for methamphetamine-driven
crime, of a sample of Australian
police detainees recruited in 2013
through the Drug Use Monitoring in
Australia program.
Methamphetamine users reported
deriving a significantly higher
proportion of their income from crime
than non-users. Logistic regression
analysis reveals the use of
methamphetamine, heroin and/or
cannabis predicts engagement in
acquisitive crime when other drug use
and polydrug use is controlled for. In
addition, methamphetamine users
reported their use played a contributing
role in their offending, most commonly
through intoxication or the need for
money to purchase drugs.
The findings indicate recent
methamphetamine use increases the risk
of engagement in acquisitive offences.