From tribune.usask.ca!freenet.carleton.ca!cunews!daemon Thu Jan 27 08:44:24 1994 Newsgroups: ncf.newspaper.statscan.daily Path: tribune.usask.ca!freenet.carleton.ca!cunews!daemon From: /CENTRAL.U157036 Subject: Drug Use and Crime 1993 Message-ID: <940127.09093632.068897@ADMIN.CP6> To: statscan-daily@cunews.carleton.ca Really-To: statscan-daily@cunews.carleton.ca Sender: daemon@cunews.carleton.ca Organization: Carleton University Date: Thu, 27 Jan 1994 14:09:00 GMT Approved: news@cunews.carleton.ca Lines: 46 Police-reported crimes that involve possession of drugs have been declining in number, while crimes that involve drug supply offences have been rising. In 1981, 58,838 possession incidents were reported nationally, compared with 33, 037 in 1992. By contrast, supply offences have increased in number and comprise a growing proportion of drug crimes. Between 1977 and 1992, trafficking incidents increased from 10,816 to 19,539, importation inci-dents increased from 397 to 1, 073, and cultivation incidents increased from 595 to 2,841. Overall, these crimes made up 18% of total drug incidents in 1977. By 1992, this proportion had more than doubled to 42%. In 1992, 69% of possession incidents involved cannabis, compared with 93% in 1977. In contrast, the proportion of cocaine-related incidents has grown from 1% of possession incidents in 1977 to 18% in 1992. Likewise, cocaine has been involved in an increasing proportion of supply offences. For example, trafficking in cocaine comprised 37% of trafficking incidents in 1992, compared with just 4% in 1977. Over the same period, trafficking incidents involving cannabis declined from 69% to 40%. Alcohol: the most common drug present in crime The Revised Homicide Survey reveals that, among those accused of murder in 1991 and 1992 who were known to have consumed a substance, alcohol was the most frequently taken drug (66%), followed by alcohol and other drugs (27%), and other drugs alone (7%). Alcohol was the drug most frequently taken by both victims and assailants. A recent sample of federal inmates reveals that, among men who reported being under the influence of a substance while committing the crimes for which they were jailed, most had consumed only alcohol (44%). "Alcohol and other drugs" ( 27%) and "other drugs alone" (29%) had been used in close to equal proportions. The Vol. 14, No. 6 issue of Juristat Service Bulle-tin: Drug Use and Crime ( 85-002, $3.60/$65) and a related report are now available. These reports examine the relationship between drug use and crime within the context of drug use and drug enforcement trends in Canadian society. Three recent survey initiatives were drawn upon the Violence Against Women Survey, the Revised Homicide Survey, and the Revised Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. In addition, information recently available from the Correctional Service of Canada on drug use among federal inmates was examined. See "How to Order Publications." For further information, contact Information and Client Services (1-800-387- 2231 or 1-613-951-9023, fax: 613-951-6615), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.