Tradewinds July 2014 Web Final

Dear Dr. Crime:
Is “pot” a gateway drug?
Happy Kid
Dear Happy.
A report by the US NCJRSi of serious
drug users showed pot is used first
in most cases and it is increasing as a
“gateway” to other drugs. Better stay
away from it.
Dear Dr. Crime: The current crop of
kids is running America. Crime is getting
worse. I never knew fear like I do
now. The news is full of awful things!
Why are folks worse now than before?
Angry & Scared
Dear Angry and Scared.
When I watch the TV news, I get upset
just like you do, but don’t lose hope.
Consider the State Bureau of Investigation
reports on NC crime. The crime
rate per 100,000 persons was 3,942 in
2011 and 3,767 in 2012. It dropped!
In 2012 NC had 356,810 reported
crimes and in 1993 there were 384,905
crimes. So crime is going down, not
what it seems from the TV news!
When crime is compared across many
hundreds of years, we are far nicer
now than, say, in the Middle Ages.
Do you have a crime and delinquency
related question? Write to Dr. Crime
at professorcrime@gmail.com.
Also, if your child is a “youthful offender”
Dr. Crime can offer suggestions
on how to work with the criminal
justice system. For more information
see http://drcrime.weebly.com