The Correlation Between Drug Use and Crime: Prevention "Drug use is associated with an exceptional 20-40% of criminal activity in the United States today" (Keene , 2005, p. 3). The use of illicit drugs can almost always be taken into consideration when talking about property crimes, theft, burglary, murder, rape, aggravated assault, etc. There is a significant relationship between drug abuse, both legal and illegal, and the effects it has on crime. The main correlations between drugs and crime are found mainly in heroin, cocaine, PCP (phencyclidine) and opiates. However, alcohol, even though it is legal, impacts crime more than most people realize. Normally, much prevention, including increased rehabilitation centers, higher levels of law enforcement, stricter laws, and the legalization of illicit drugs, can be tactics to limit drug use and crime. Definition of Drug Use and Abuse Drug use is simply defined as the consumption of medications or prescription drugs, including alcohol. Drug abuse is defined as the habitual use of drugs to alter one's mood, emotions, or state of consciousness. Abuse can result in significant impairments, failure to fulfill social or work obligations, or situations that are physically dangerous, lethal, or could lead to legal problems. Legal Highs Alcohol, a legal drug, is more commonly abused than we know. Consuming more than one drink per hour is considered binge drinking or abuse. Alcohol abuse can have devastating effects on a person's judgment. Different effects of abuse can include impairment, disruption of normal brain function, and misjudgment of social cues, which could primarily lead to aggravation of aggression. Illegal Drugs Furthermore, illegal drugs that have a significant or...... medium paper .... ..Cocaine, PCP and alcohol) have led to more crimes than citizens want to believe, actions are being taken to support of the war on drugs. Either the actions presented involve more stable and efficient law enforcement that cleans up and rids the streets of drug crime, or an increase in the progress and growth of drug rehab centers across the country. Additionally, drug-crime ratios decline more every year, providing hope for the growth and stability of this nation. Prevention and the correlation between drugs and crime are the backbone for taking a stand against the seemingly endless "black hole" that illegal drugs bring into the world every day. With law enforcement, the public's help, and every coping mechanism that can be used for drug prevention, one day there will be a light at the end of the dark tunnel.