Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence

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Abstract
A review of the scientific literature on the relationship between alcohol and violence and that between drugs and violence is presented. A review and analysis of three major theoretical approaches to understanding these rela- tionships are also presented. A number of conclusions are reached on the ba- sis of these efforts. First, despite a number of published statements to the contrary, we find no significant evidence suggesting that drug use is associ- ated with violence. Second, there is substantial evidence to suggest that alco- hol use is significantly associated with violence of all kinds. Third, recent theoretical efforts reviewed here have, despite shortcomings, led to signifi- cant new understanding of how and why alcohol and drugs are related to vio- lence. Fourth, these theoretical models and a growing number of empirical studies demonstrate the importance of social context for understanding vio- lence and the ways in which alcohol and drugs are related to violence. Fifth, the shortcomings of these theoretical models and the lack of definitive em- pirical tests of these perspectives point to the major directions where future research on the relationship between alcohol and violence, and between drugs and violence, is needed.