أثر تعاطي مادة الشبو على ارتكاب الجريمة: دراسة وصفية لعينة من نزلاء السجون في المجتمع السعودي

Abstract

The current study aimed to examine the impact of “Shabo” substance abuse on criminal behavior among a sample of prison inmates, as well as the motives for its use, the ensuing social repercus-sions, and its effect on self-harm. The study employed a descriptive methodology and involved a sample of 317 respondents from prisons in Jeddah, selected through purposive sampling, with the questionnaire serving as the research instrument. The study yielded several key findings, notably that users of the “Shabo” substance reported that its use made them bolder and prompted them to engage in actions they otherwise would not have undertaken; it contributed to their committing crimes and led to their incarceration. Moreover, its use had previously been associated with inci-dents of self-harm and harm to others, as well as property offenses, with the most common being the theft of property belonging to unknown individuals. In light of these findings, the study rec-ommended the introduction and implementation of alternative legal measures within the criminal penalty framework for first-time “Shabo” users—those who have not previously been incarcer-ated—by mandating their admission to specialized centers focused on the treatment and recovery from behavioral addiction under the joint supervision of the relevant governmental authorities.