NCJ Number
111659
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (1987) Pages: 195-200
Date Published
1987
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study, which examined the use of drugs by 650 homicide victims at time of death in Erie County, N.Y. for 1973-1984 detected drugs in only 4.2 percent of the victims.
Abstract
Toxicological data revealed that the drugs most frequently encountered were lidocaine, heroin/morphine, methadone, and cocaine. The incidence of positive blood alcohol levels in victims was 45 percent. Other findings included (1) black homicide victims outnumbered whites only slightly, (2) there were three times as many male victims as females, (3) the age group with highest percentage of homicide victims was 25-34, and (4) the most common cause of death was gunshot, followed by stabbing and beating. While Erie County had the same incidence of alcohol involvement in homicides as New York City, the involvement of drugs in homicide was considerably below that of New York City. A major problem associated with assessing the relation between alcohol and drug use and criminal activity is reliability and validity of alcohol/drug measures. 2 tables and 12 references. (Author abstract modified)