Most psychoactive drugs change a person’s mood or behavior. Sometimes these changes are negative or harmful, both to the user and to other people. Behavior caused by drug use can also get a person into trouble with the law.
Intoxication
In some places it is an offense to be intoxicated in a public place.
Violence
Long-term or excessive use of alcohol or other drugs can affect a person’s relationships with other people. Domestic violence can follow alcohol and drug use. Injuring other people is a criminal offense. It isn’t excused or defended just because it happens inside a family. Alcohol or drug use can make a person aggressive and lead to fights with others. Fighting in a public place is also an offense.
Crime
There seems to be a relationship between using some drugs and committing crimes. For example, intoxication is associated with serious assaults, drunk or drugged driving, street disturbances, domestic violence and a range of other offenses. Also, someone who regularly uses a drug like heroin needs a lot of money to pay for it. Sometimes people turn to committing crimes like supplying illicit drugs to others, theft, burglary, armed robbery or prostitution to obtain money for drugs.