Gender differences in the association of alcohol intoxication and illicit drug abuse among persons arrested for violent and property offenses

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the associations between violent and other crimes, and alcohol intoxication and recent use of cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs among men and women arrestees and examine gender differences in these relationships. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of 1998 using Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) system data using a sample of 9242 male and 2594 women arrested for violent and property offenses in 35 cities. Logistic regression was used to predict arrest for a violent offense (rather than a property crime) from drug- and alcohol-related, and other variables. Results: Both gender and alcohol intoxication are significantly related to arrest for a violent offense. However, the intoxication effects (in the absence of cocaine) are more than three times as great for female (Exp(β)=5.59) as male arrestees (Exp(β)=1.74), while the combined effects of alcohol and cocaine predict a property offense for women but are insignificant for men. Implications: To achieve further reductions in violent crime, intervention strategies need to focus on reducing alcohol intoxication as well as illicit drug use. Research on the role of alcohol on women's aggression and violence also is suggested.