The drug of choice among—the drug most likely to be used by—arrestees is:

• A. Methamphetamine
• B. Cocaine
• C. Opiates
• D. Marijuana

Answer: (D)

The pattern being tested is which substance is most commonly used by people who have been arrested. In offender populations, marijuana stands out as the drug most frequently used, so it is the best choice for “the drug of choice” among arrestees. This reflects evidence showing high prevalence of marijuana use in this group compared with other illicit drugs, like methamphetamine, cocaine, or opiates, which, while present, are not as widely used overall among arrestees. Factors contributing to marijuana’s prominence include its greater accessibility, lower cost, and slower, less immediately risky effects relative to harsher stimulants or opiates, making it more likely to be the drug arrestees have used or prefer. While the other drugs are important in the crime-drug linkage and treatment considerations, the overall pattern in arrestee samples tends to show marijuana as the most commonly used substance.