Correlation between street crime and substance abuse: how drug misuse can influence the path to street crimes- a meta-analysis

Abstract Street crime is a crime that is disproportionately committed against and by members of lower social strata and frequently occurs in public places. It accounts for a large portion of crime in cities, making street safety one of the top concerns of the public. Although it is widely accepted that substance use disorder influences criminal psychology and behavior, there is still debate about how exactly this disorder influences crime. This study focuses on neuropsychological, environmental and forensic factors that create a correlation between the disorder and specifically, street crime. All data collected through scientific were analyzed through statistical analysis to analyze the diversity of street crime and substance abuse outcomes. The results showed that factors such as comorbid mental health disorders, family and environmental background, adverse experiences in the past had a significant impact on street theft and robbery, as crimes committed by individuals who suffer from SAD (substance abuse disorder). Our results support that specific institutions, such as treatment programs and correction facilities are centrally responsible for crime and suggest the effectiveness of natural surveillance and frequent activity in preventing specific crimes.