Drug and Alcohol Crimes

This chapter examines drug and alcohol crimes – excluding trafficking – such as personal possession, public intoxication, driving under the influence (DUI), and underage drinking. Unlike organized trafficking networks, these offenses are typically opportunistic and shaped by social settings including nightlife districts, festivals, and college campuses. Distinct temporal and spatial patterns emerge: incidents often peak on weekends, holidays, and in areas where substances are readily available. Offender behaviors – such as concealing small quantities of drugs, operating vehicles while impaired, or engaging in public disorder – create additional analytical signals. These crimes frequently intersect with other problems, from assaults near bars to property crimes driven by substance dependence. This chapter covers how to identify and analyze recurring variables, such as persistent DUI corridors, repeat underage alcohol sales, or systematic prescription fraud, so that law enforcement and policy makers can move beyond isolated arrests and target the underlying risk environments. Recognizing these patterns supports strategic interventions and harm-reduction measures that prevent escalation into more serious offenses and inform evidence-based policy decisions.