The Drugs–Violence Nexus

Abstract

Research on drug use often fails to account for drug dealing in most analyses of violence and other systemic risks associated with illegal drugs. The current study examined whether drug dealing, independent of its connection to drug use, increases involvement with delinquent peers, violence, weapons, and other drug-related conflicts. Data were drawn from the first two waves of the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (N = 1,148). Hierarchical linear models were used to investigate changes in these behaviors that resulted from the respondents’ involvement in drug dealing and drug use. Results indicate that involvement in drug dealing, controlling for drug use, increases violence and other systemic risks to a level that drug use alone is not likely to achieve. Findings also show, however, that drug use among dealers may reduce violence and limit contact with delinquent peers.