chapter 13

Victimless crimes

Crimes where all involved parties consent and there is no immediate individual victim.

Psychoactive substance

A drug that changes brain function, mood, perception, or behavior.

Drug offense

Possession, use, distribution, or manufacture of illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia.

Controlled substance

A drug regulated by law due to potential for abuse or harm.

Dangerous drug

A drug with high risk of physical or psychological harm.

Drug trafficking

Manufacturing, distributing, importing, or exporting controlled substances.

HSP

High school seniors’ drug use statistics tracked over time.

Pharmaceutical diversion

Obtaining prescription drugs illegally, often through doctor shopping or pill mills.

Synthetic drugs

Chemically created drugs that mimic natural drugs (e.g., K2, bath salts, fentanyl).

Drug-defined crime

Crimes that violate drug laws directly (possession, distribution, manufacture).

Drug-related crime

Crimes committed to get drugs, pay for drugs, or connected to drug markets.

Interdiction

Efforts to stop drugs from entering the country or reaching users.

Forfeiture

Government seizure of money or property tied to illegal drug activity.

Decriminalization

Reducing or removing criminal penalties for certain drug offenses.

Legalization

Making production, sale, and use of a drug legal under regulation.

Prostitution

Exchanging sex for money or something of value.

Where is the harm in a victimless crime?

Harm appears in social costs, addiction, health risks, exploitation, and connections to other crimes.

What is the most commonly used illicit drug?

Marijuana.

How does drug use vary by age?

Drug use peaks in teens and young adults and declines with age.

What are some of the White House’s recommendations to address the opioid crisis?

Education, safe disposal of medications, treatment programs, harm reduction, and controlling prescription practices.

What constitutes what schedule a drug ends up on? What schedule contains the most serious/dangerous drugs?

Schedules are based on medical use and abuse potential; Schedule I contains the most dangerous drugs.

How are drugs and crime linked?

Drug possession and sales are crimes; drug use increases theft, violence, and turf-related crime.

What are the arguments for legalization?

Personal freedom, tax revenue, reduced crime, weaker cartels, reduced corruption, and better health regulation.

What are the arguments against legalization?

Increased addiction, moral concerns, social harm, and worsening problems similar to alcohol abuse.

What is prostitution?

The exchange of sexual services for money or something of value.

How has the Internet changed sex work?

It moved sex work off the streets and into online escort services, making it less visible.

What are the five categories of sex workers? Briefly describe each one.

Streetwalkers — work outdoors, highest risk.
Bar/hotel prostitutes — find clients in bars or hotels.
Strippers — may sell sexual services connected to clubs.
Brothel prostitutes — work in regulated indoor settings.
Online escorts — arrange services online; highest-paying and least visible.

How do children end up in the sex trades? How do they get out?

They are lured by pimps with promises of love, money, or security; they exit through rescue, support programs, therapy, or aging out.

What are the arguments for legalizing sex work? What are the arguments against it?

For: Safety, regulation, empowerment, public health benefits.
Against: Exploitation, morality concerns, danger, and many workers not choosing it freely.