ABSTRACT

The proliferation of drug abuse grabbed the spotlight during the 1980s in the United States. One of the most compelling arguments in favor of strict enforcement of drug laws is the presumed association between substance abuse and violence. Finally, substance abuse and violence might be linked through a third factor; for example, alcohol abuse is associated with a high level of head injury from accidents. In addition, alcohol abuse and violence may develop independently and thus be correlated but not always causally related—as in theories that emphasize that both problem drinking and problem violence behavior can be learned through modeling. The central nervous system stimulants most commonly associated with violence are cocaine and crack cocaine. Some research has found an association between crack cocaine use and number of arrests, as well as other multiple risk factors, such as a history of sexual molestation.