Alcohol and cocaine use amongst young people and its impact on violent behaviour

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1 Alcohol and cocaine use amongst young people and its impact on violent behaviour An analysis of the 2006 Offending Crime and Justice Survey CARLY LIGHTOWLERS CRIME SURVEY USER GROUP DECEMBER 2011 Carly Lightowlers 1

2 Intro Concerns about young people s drinking patterns Parallel concern about increasing recreational cocaine use Cocaine second most popular drug used by those aged (after cannabis) 99% of cocaine users also disclosed that they drank alcohol (Hoare and Moon, 2010). Carly Lightowlers 2

3 Intro Higher rates of alcohol and drug use amongst offending populations; and Higher rates of violence amongst those with drug/alcohol problems (MacDonald et al., 2008; Chermack and Blow, 2002) Heavier users of alcohol and cocaine reporting higher violence severity (Chermack and Blow, 2002; Denison et al., 1997) Combined cocaine and alcohol abusers more likely to have higher rates of criminal behaviour than those only using cocaine or those only using alcohol (Denison et al., 1997). Carly Lightowlers 3

4 Intro At times when participants were using cocaine they engaged in more criminal when they were also using alcohol (Denison et al., 1997). At times in their cocaine using careers when participants were also drinking to excess they were more likely to be engaged in serious violent offending (Denison et al., 1997). Chermack and Blow (2002) were the first to identify a significant interaction effect of alcohol and cocaine consumption on recent violent behaviour. Carly Lightowlers 4

5 Data and methods OCJS 2006 Sub-sample (aged 16 to 25; N=3098) Logistic regression models subsample of respondents aged 16 to 25 who are regular drinkers i.e. those who drink once a month or more and for whom valid responses were obtained to the key variables, such as heavy episodic drinking and cocaine consumption (N=2222) Carly Lightowlers 5

6 Measures Heavy episodic drinking Ever had a drink Frequency of drinking Frequency of heavy episodic drinking (more than 6/8 units in one day) Cocaine consumption Whether ever taken cocaine Whether taken cocaine in the last 12 months Whether taken cocaine in the last 4 weeks Frequency of taking cocaine Carly Lightowlers 6

7 Findings - alcohol Most (94.1%) had drank in the past twelve months Over half engage in heavy episodic drinking 1-4 times a month (56.4%) Heavy episodic drinking frequency and violent offending were significantly associated Those engaging in heavy episodic drinking more than five times a month were more likely to have committed an assault offence Carly Lightowlers 7

8 Findings - cocaine One in eight disclosed having tried powder cocaine (12.5%; 339 cases) Of those that had consumed cocaine in the last year over half (57.6%) classified their use as not frequent almost a quarter (23.6%) described their use as frequent (using cocaine once a month or more) Cocaine consumption and violent offending were significantly associated, albeit weakly Nearly all of those who had consumed cocaine in the last month, also engaged in heavy episodic drinking at least once a month (96.2%) Carly Lightowlers 8

9 Findings alcohol and cocaine Regular heavy episodic drinkers more likely to have committed an assault offence Recent cocaine use had a significant large additive effect on the likelihood of a violent outcome (OR= 3.007) A multiplicative effect for heavy episodic drinking and cocaine was not significant -> additive risk for both heavy episodic drinking and cocaine consumption on violent outcomes rather than multiplicative risk from exerting both behaviours Carly Lightowlers 9

10 Discussion Models highlight that heavy episodic drinkers and males were significantly more likely to commit assault than females, as were younger people in the age range years. However, heavy episodic drinking frequency only became a significant predictor for females if they did so at the higher level. Recent cocaine use also had a predictive effect on the likelihood of an individual having committed an assault offence the effect of cocaine use was slightly larger for males than for females Carly Lightowlers 10

11 Discussion Multiplicative effect for heavy episodic drinking and cocaine use was not significant. No evidence of an effect of the combination of alcohol and cocaine use on violent behaviour; each behaviour individually seemingly impacts on the likelihood of violent offending. Cocaine consumption is nonetheless more likely amongst those that also engage in heavy episodic drinking and research findings elsewhere have found that use of alcohol seems to increase the likelihood of cocaine users engaging in violent behaviour (Denison et al., 1997). Carly Lightowlers 11

12 Conclusions Findings suggests alcohol and cocaine consumption patterns should be addressed as risk factors for violent behaviour Interventions aimed at reducing drinking or cocaine consumption are likely to have an impact in reducing offending behaviour Caution should be issued in interpreting how combinations of alcohol and drug use may be operating Carly Lightowlers 12

13 Conclusions Other studys to test effects of combined alcohol and cocaine use are encouraged given association found here between those using cocaine and regular heavy episodic drinking Interventions aimed at reducing alcohol and cocaine use as well as violent offending in males and females may require different approaches: low level alcohol use could be a potential trigger for interventions in males whereas high level or escalating alcohol consumption patterns may provide a useful trigger for interventions in females. cocaine use ought to trigger interventions amongst both males and females Carly Lightowlers 13

14 Thank you for listening Carly Lightowlers Carly Lightowlers 14