The research explores how drug-related offenses influence the development of criminal careers. Analyzing over 1200 police inquiries, the study focuses on individuals whose first offenses occurred in 1985, 1990, and 2005. Findings reveal that those entering the criminal justice system through drug offenses are more likely to pursue criminal careers. Additionally, younger age and lower education levels at the time of the first offense correlate with more severe crimes, highlighting the significant role of these factors in shaping criminal trajectories.
