NCJ Number
213151
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 24 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2005 Pages: 507-513
Date Published
November 2005
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between alcohol outlets and drug hot-spots on rates of violence in Houston, TX.
Abstract
Study results indicate that the variables of alcohol outlet density, drug crime density and sociostructural interact to create unsafe neighborhoods. In relation to alcohol outlet density and drug crime density, the study results showed that the latter, drug crime density, explained a greater amount of variance in violent crime rates than the former, alcohol outlet density. A spatial relationship was also revealed between alcohol outlet density and drug crime density and violent crime rates. Supporting previous studies, this analysis suggests that criminal behavior associated with drug use is more strongly associated with violent crime than is alcohol outlet density. Past ecological studies have shown a relationship between alcohol outlet densities and violence and between the location of crimes related to illicit drug use or hot-spots and violence. This study comprised the 439 census tracts from Houston, TX, where violent crime data were reported by the city police department. Utilizing the Houston data, the study attempted to compare the effects of alcohol outlets and drug hot-spots on rates of violence. Tables, references