Recent Trends in the Demography of Heroin Addiction among Youthful Offenders

Abstract

Trends in demographic characteristics associated with heroin addiction in successive cohorts of a young offender population over the 5-year period 1968–1972 were examined within the framework of two contradictory views of the social competence of the addict provided by the literature. In general, heroin addicts during this period were found to be older, better educated, and more intelligent than nonaddicts. In addition, the racial composition of both the addict and nonaddict samples became increasingly non-White in composition and better educated; nonaddicts became increasingly older; and no significant trends with respect to intelligance took place. These findings support the view of the addict as being relatively more socially competent than his non- addict offender peer. Implications of these findings for a model of addiction and rehabilitation are discussed.