Criminal activity happens for many different reasons. When someone is arrested, outsiders will often assume that that person made the choice to commit those criminal acts. It was something that they did deliberately.
But this isn’t always the case. Individuals who are struggling with addiction – which is a known medical condition – may be more likely to commit specific crimes than others. Let’s take a look at two examples of how this could happen.
High functioning alcoholics
For one thing, people sometimes assume that those who are addicted to alcohol can barely function in society. But this is often not the case. High-functioning alcoholics have jobs, they have families, they pay the bills and they commute to work every day.
But because they are addicted to alcohol, this still means that they are more likely to be pulled over for impaired driving. They’re not making the decision to drive under the influence because they want to. However, their addiction is prompting them to drink excessively, increasing the odds that they will still be impaired when they do drive.
Drug possession crimes
Another issue to look at revolves around drug crimes. Those who are addicted to substances often feel as if the addiction is out of their control. They may know that it is illegal to buy prescription medication under the table, for instance. They may know that it is illegal to possess controlled substances or drugs like cocaine or heroin. But a drug addiction can override this rational thinking and cause a person to do things that they never would’ve done otherwise.
In some cases, drug courts and treatment programs may be utilized. It’s important for all those who are facing criminal charges to know what legal options they have.