Substance Use and Crime
This requirement covers four topics connecting substance use to crime and prevention:
- Legal and health consequences of alcohol, tobacco and vaping, illegal drugs, and diverted prescription drugs
- How substance use contributes to violence, property crime, and victimization
- How prevention and recovery programs help prevent crime
- How to get help for yourself or someone you know
Requirement 8a: Legal and Health Consequences
Every substance carries both legal penalties and health risks. Understanding both gives you the full picture of why substance use and crime are so closely connected.
Alcohol
Legal consequences for minors:
- Underage possession or consumption is illegal in all 50 states
- Penalties include fines, community service, mandatory alcohol education, and suspension of driving privileges
- A Minor in Possession (MIP) charge goes on your record and can affect college applications, scholarships, and job opportunities
- Providing alcohol to minors is a separate crime for the person who supplies it
Health consequences:
- Impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction time
- Damages the developing brain — the brain continues developing until age 25, and alcohol can permanently affect memory, learning, and decision-making
- Risk of alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal
- Highly addictive — early use dramatically increases the risk of developing alcohol use disorder later in life
Tobacco and Vaping Products
Legal consequences:
- Federal law prohibits the sale of tobacco and vaping products to anyone under 21
- Possession by minors is illegal in many states, with penalties including fines and mandatory education programs
Health consequences:
- Nicotine is highly addictive — most adult smokers started as teenagers
- Vaping delivers nicotine along with chemicals that damage lung tissue (EVALI — E-cigarette or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury has hospitalized thousands)
- Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, and chronic lung disease
- Secondhand smoke harms people nearby, especially children
Illegal Drugs
Legal consequences:
- Possession, use, sale, and manufacturing of illegal drugs are all crimes
- Penalties range from fines and probation to years in prison, depending on the substance and quantity
- Drug convictions can result in loss of financial aid for college, loss of driving privileges, and a permanent criminal record
- Even in states where marijuana has been legalized for adults, it remains illegal for anyone under 21
Health consequences by substance type:
| Substance | Key Health Risks |
|---|---|
| Marijuana | Impaired memory and brain development, reduced motivation, lung damage from smoking |
| Cocaine/Crack | Heart attack, stroke, seizures, addiction, overdose death |
| Heroin/Opioids | Overdose death (leading cause of accidental death in the U.S.), severe addiction, collapsed veins |
| Methamphetamine | Extreme addiction, severe dental damage, psychosis, brain damage |
| Fentanyl | Extremely potent — a dose the size of two grains of salt can be fatal; often mixed into other drugs without the user’s knowledge |
Marijuana
- Key Health Risks
- Impaired memory and brain development, reduced motivation, lung damage from smoking
Cocaine/Crack
- Key Health Risks
- Heart attack, stroke, seizures, addiction, overdose death
Heroin/Opioids
- Key Health Risks
- Overdose death (leading cause of accidental death in the U.S.), severe addiction, collapsed veins
Methamphetamine
- Key Health Risks
- Extreme addiction, severe dental damage, psychosis, brain damage
Fentanyl
- Key Health Risks
- Extremely potent — a dose the size of two grains of salt can be fatal; often mixed into other drugs without the user’s knowledge
Diverted Prescription Drugs
“Diverted” means prescription medications used by someone other than the person they were prescribed for, or used in ways not directed by a doctor.
Legal consequences:
- Possessing someone else’s prescription medication is a crime
- Sharing, selling, or distributing prescription drugs carries felony penalties
- Doctor shopping (visiting multiple doctors to get extra prescriptions) is fraud
Health consequences:
- Prescription opioids (OxyContin, Vicodin) are highly addictive and are a common gateway to heroin use
- Prescription stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin) can cause heart problems, anxiety, and psychosis when misused
- Combining prescription drugs with alcohol or other drugs multiplies the risk of overdose
Requirement 8b: Substance Use and Crime
Substance use and crime are deeply intertwined. The connection runs in multiple directions:
Crimes Committed Under the Influence
Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, lower inhibitions, and increase aggression. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that approximately 40% of violent crimes involve an offender who was using alcohol at the time. Crimes committed under the influence include:
- Assault and domestic violence
- DUI/DWI (driving under the influence)
- Vandalism and property destruction
- Sexual assault
Crimes Committed to Get Drugs
Addiction creates desperate need. People addicted to expensive substances may commit crimes to fund their habit:
- Theft, burglary, and robbery
- Prostitution
- Selling drugs to others
- Fraud and identity theft
Drug-Related Crime
The illegal drug trade generates its own ecosystem of crime:
- Violent turf wars between drug organizations
- Weapons offenses
- Money laundering
- Corruption of public officials
Becoming a Victim
Substance use also makes people more likely to become crime victims. Intoxicated individuals are easier to rob, assault, or exploit because their awareness and ability to defend themselves are compromised.
Requirement 8c: Prevention and Recovery
Breaking the cycle between substance use and crime requires intervention at every stage — before use begins, during active use, and after treatment.
Prevention Programs
- School-based education — Programs like Too Good for Drugs teach decision-making and refusal skills
- Community coalitions — Groups that bring together schools, law enforcement, faith organizations, and families to address substance use
- Prescription drug take-back programs — Safely disposing of unused medications so they can’t be diverted
- Public awareness campaigns — Educating the public about the dangers of specific substances (especially fentanyl)
Treatment and Recovery
- Detoxification — Medically supervised withdrawal from addictive substances
- Rehabilitation — Inpatient and outpatient programs that address the root causes of addiction
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) — Using FDA-approved medications alongside counseling to treat opioid and alcohol addiction
- Support groups — Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Alateen provide ongoing peer support
Drug Courts
Drug courts are specialized court programs that offer treatment instead of prison for non-violent drug offenders. Participants undergo supervised treatment, regular drug testing, and court appearances. Research shows drug courts reduce recidivism (re-offending) by 8–14% compared to traditional criminal processing.
Requirement 8d: Getting Help
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available — and asking for it is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Crisis Resources
Save these numbers — you may need them for yourself or a friend
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
- Poison Control (for overdose): 1-800-222-1222
- Local emergency: 911
Steps to take:
- Talk to a trusted adult — A parent, school counselor, doctor, Scout leader, or religious leader
- Call the SAMHSA helpline (1-800-662-4357) for free referrals to treatment facilities, support groups, and counselors
- If someone is overdosing, call 911 immediately — Most states have Good Samaritan laws that protect people who call for help during an overdose from drug possession charges
