Methamphetamine and Violence

California State L A University Auxiliary Services Inc., Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

This research project explores the relationship among methamphetamine use and distribution, and incidents of interpersonal violence. The project involves 200 respondents in total, with six subsamples of methamphetamine users and sellers. The specific aims of the project are to: gather data on the contexts and circumstances of events where methamphetamine users and seller use violence; explore the pharmacological relationship between methamphetamine use and violent behavior; probe the association between methamphetamine distribution and violence; determine more about the relationship between methamphetamine use and domestic violence; and develop perspectives on the role the economic, cultural, and social milieu play in the decisions by respondents to participate in violence. Although an important focus of the work is to explore how methamphetamine users and sellers interpret themselves, others, and the criminal situations they experience, the PIs will also use the data to explore, quantitatively, patterns of offending. Using the life event histories, estimates of offenders' criminal involvement will be developed, length of criminal careers will be estimated by offense type and other dimensions of criminal involvement.