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Abstract
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Despite extensive public health campaigns, the consequences of alcohol intoxication continue to be a serious public health concern. Alcohol intoxication, for example, is a prevalent feature of crime, especially violent crime. Previous studies of alcohol intoxication and violent crime have used samples of police reports, correctional populations (arrestees, jail detainees, or convicted offenders), or community surveys. Studies using police reports and correctional populations are biased because few police citizen encounters result in police reports or arrest. Community surveys avoid these biases but rely on the subject's assessment of both the victims and the suspects intoxication.
The authors took a different approach and directly observed 2,365 police citizen encounters. Observers used the Alcohol Symptom Checklist to determine the level of alcohol intoxication or impairment. The authors compared the prevalence of suspects and victims alcohol intoxication (equivalent to a blood alcohol level [BAL] of .05 or above) by type of encounter and computed odds ratios to assess the association between intoxication and type of encounter. The authors also controlled for demographic characteristics (race, gender, age, and socio-economic status) to assess the relationships among perpetration, victimization, and intoxication. Overall, suspects are far more likely than victims to be intoxicated; not surprisingly, suspects in public order/vandalism encounters are the most likely to be intoxicated. Alcohol intoxication appears to contribute substantially to violent victimization. The role of alcohol intoxication is largest among groups that, if not intoxicated, are generally less vulnerable to violence: whites, males, and persons of higher socio-economic status. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for services and public health policy. (Abstract Adapted from Source: American Journal on Addictions, 2001. Copyright © 2001 by Brunner-Routledge)
Alcohol Use Effects
Alcohol Related Violence
Alcohol Related Victimization
Alcohol Related Crime
Adult Crime
Adult Offender
Adult Substance Use
Adult Violence
Adult Victim
Substance Use Effects
Public Health Approach
06-01 |