Comparative rates of violent crime among regular methamphetamine and opioid users: offending and victimization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the comparative levels of violent offending and victimization among regular methamphetamine and heroin users.


METHODS
Cross-sectional Setting Sydney, Australia.


METHODS
A total of 400 regular methamphetamine (METH) and heroin (HER) users (118 methamphetamine users: METH; 161 regular heroin users: HER; 121 regular users of both: BOTH).


RESULTS
Eighty-two per cent reported a life-time history of committing violent crime, 41% in the past 12 months. There were no group differences in life-time violence, but the METH group were significantly more likely than the HER group to have committed violence in the past 12 months (odds ratio 1.94). Nearly all (95%) reported that they had been a victim of violent crime, 46% in the preceding 12 months, with no group differences. Those who had committed a violent crime in the past 12 months were 13.23 times more likely to have been a victim in that period. The majority believed it unlikely that they would be a victim of (78%), or commit (87%), a violent crime in the next 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular methamphetamine use appears to be associated with an increased risk of violent offending, but not victimization, compared with heroin use.
Darke
Shane
S
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia. s.darke@unsw.edu.au
Torok
Michelle
M
Kaye
Sharlene
S
Ross
Joanne
J
McKetin
Rebecca
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult