The onset of heroin use and criminal behaviour: does order make a difference?

The extent to which the onset of criminality with respect to heroin use accounts for heterogeneity within a heroin-using population was investigated among 400 community and incarcerated methadone maintenance patients. Those for whom crime preceded heroin use (primary antisocials) were younger and more likely to be male than those for whom heroin use preceded crime (secondary antisocials). Primary antisocials were also more likely to have committed violent crime and to qualify for a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). It is concluded that taking the order of onset of heroin use and criminality into account may reduce the risk of overdiagnosing ASPD among this population and help clarify the relationship between drug use and crime. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.