Illicit drug use and crime

After the events that took place in 1989 in Romania, illicit drug use became a reality. Drug use is currently found in almost all social classes and when it comes to problematic drug use, the effects can be devastating for the drug user, his family and even for the community to which he belongs. The drug use problem is a complex one, taking in account the type of addiction that it develops, the great diversity of substances and their different effects on the body and the central nervous system. In common knowledge, the link between drug use and crime is an obvious one. According to the Romanian legislation in force, unlawful possession of drugs for personal use is a crime and is punishable by imprisonment or fine. The drug-related crime issue goes far beyond committing a drug possession crime. In the social area, drug use leads to problems that are very difficult to manage starting from school dropout, domestic violence, deviant behavior and committing crimes. There is a strong link between illicit drug use and criminal behavior, an infinitely more complex issue than the stereotype of a drug user who commits criminal acts under the influence of psycho-active substances or a robbery in order to obtain money to buy the drugs to which they have become addicted. The objective of the current article is to provide an overview on drug related crimes in Romania, among adults and minors, through a systematic analysis of available indicators and statistics.