Journal Article Questions

Chapter 16

Article 1: Chapel, J., & Taylor, D. (1970). Drugs for kicks. Crime and Delinquency, 16(1), 1-35. Retrieved from
http://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/default+domain/ZKR6V8UdWHBBfcaWWMjj/full

This paper is a review of drugs that are being abused by children and adolescents. The format includes subheadings of "General Information," "Effects," "Techniques of Administration," "Habit Description," "Clinical Findings," "Association with Crime, Sex, Antisocial Behavior," "Personality Dynamics," "Treatment," and, where applicable, "Preventive Measures." The paper is summarized in a table and includes a comprehensive bibliography of some ninety references.

Inhaling noxious vapors of toluene, gasoline, etc., results in an acute brain syndrome that resembles alcohol intoxication but has more serious side effects, including hallucinations and delusions. The deterioration of judgment accompanying this intoxication sometimes results in serious accidents and even fatal consequences. The possibility of chronic physical and psychological morbidity is accepted.

More serious is the problem of the adolescent narcotic addict who is under compulsion to obtain drugs (usually by crime) to feed his physical and psychic craving.

Of the hallucinogenic drugs, LSD and marijuana are by far the most commonly abused. Though neither has been shown to be addictive, both produce physiologic and psychic manifestations that can be rather severe, and both can precipitate psychotic breaks. LSD has been shown to cause "chromosomal breaks" in the cells of the users and their offspring. Other hallucinogenic drugs such as morning-glory seeds, nutmeg, etc., give essentially the same reactions but are less frequently used.

The paper conjectures that usage of LSD, STP, and other psychedelic drugs (but not marijuana) will eventually drop off but that other modes of getting "kicks" or "acting out" will quickly spring up to take their place.

Questions that apply to this article:
1. What types of drugs are being abused by adolescents?
2. What are some of the effects of the drugs adolescents are using?
3. What are some of the clinical findings the research has found?

Article 2: Felson, R. B., & Staff, J. (2015). Committing economic crime for drug money. Crime & Delinquency, 1-16. Retrieved from
http://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/default+domain/C7x273NgeW62I9yr46ME/full

We examine the effects of the type and frequency of drug use on whether offenders engage in economic crime to obtain money for drugs. Analyses are based on a nationally representative sample of prison inmates (5,371 property offenders and 4,588 drug offenders). Daily users of heroin, crack cocaine, or powdered cocaine are most likely to report that they committed their offense for drug money. However, offenders who used these drugs less frequently and daily users of marijuana and methamphetamine reported this motivation as well. The motivation was more common among offenders who lacked access to legitimate income. The findings suggest that economic crimes are used to support recreational drug use as well as heavy use of heroin and cocaine.

Questions that apply to this article:
1. What is the purpose of this study?
2. What does this study contribute to the field?