Addict careers. I. A new typology.

The notion that narcotic addicts constitute a homogeneous class has little utility for research on etiology, prevention, and intervention. Historically, various classification schemes have been suggested, tailored to particular applications. In this paper a new typology of addict careers is developed, based on the concepts of opportunity and motivation to use narcotics. The question addressed is: During the first decade of addiction, how much time is occupied by (1) narcotic addiction, (2) incarceration, (3) nonaddiction in the community? Preaddiction correlates of the typology are examined in a sample of addicts who became known to police during the past quarter century.