ABSTRACT
Drugs are a virtually ubiquitous feature of human cultures, and their use has been recorded throughout history. From the ingestion of hallucinogenic fungi among the Aztec of Central America to the kava ceremonies of the South Pacific to the more familiar contemporary Western consumption of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and cocaine, humans have been attracted to substances that have the alluring capacity to alter consciousness. Drug misuse, however, is a major social problem in many countries. This chapter explores the nature and extent of drug use in society and looks at some of the theories that have been used to explain why people use and become addicted to psychoactive substances. It examines the research that suggests that there is a relationship between drugs and crime, and explores different theoretical models that have been used to explain this relationship.
