Cocaine-Associated Violence and Relationship to Route of Administration

• NCJ Number: 157370
• Journal: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment Volume: 10 Dated: (1993) Pages: 67-69
• Author(s): A J Giannini; N S Miller; R H Loiselle; C E Turner
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

This study examined the relationship between predisposition to violence and route of cocaine administration for 101 consecutive patients referred for drug treatment.

Abstract

All patients used cocaine at least three times per week; routes of administration included freebasing, intranasal use, and injection. Freebasing crack cocaine had a significantly greater effect than intranasal administration on increased anger, general violent behavior, violent behavior against objects, and violent behavior against people. Intravenous injection showed a greater effect than intranasal use in terms of violent behavior against objects and people. Violent actions requiring sustained activity, such as rape, burglary, and armed robbery, were not related to route of administration. The different levels of violence between male and female cocaine users were correlated with circumstances of use, not route of administration. 2 tables and 12 references