Age of Crime/Substance Onset and Crime/Drug Versatility as Dimensions of the “Worst of Both Worlds” Effect

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether age of crime and substance use onset and prior crime and substance versatility (variety of crimes committed or drugs used) could help define the “worst of both worlds” effect. Analyses were conducted on 2,539 children and young adults from a nationally representative sample of private households in England and Wales. As predicted, the early onset crime/substance group achieved the worst future crime and substance outcomes, the late onset crime/substance group achieved the second worst outcomes, the crime or substance alone group achieved the third worst outcomes, and the no crime and substance group achieved the best outcomes. Likewise, the high crime/drug versatility group achieved the worst outcomes, the low crime/drug versatility group achieved the second worst outcomes, the crime or drug alone group achieved the third worst outcomes, and the no crime and drug group achieved the best outcomes.