May 20 2008
Substance Use and Violence
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For teens, there is a strong relationship between the use of drugs and violence. Teens who report engaging in violent behavior are also extremely likely to report using alcohol and other drugs. One national survey found that 94% of violent teens reported using alcohol, 85% reported using marijuana and 55% reported using several illegal drugs.[16]
The relationship between drugs and violence is complicated. Some teens may become violent under the influence of drugs. It is also likely that some teens engage in violence in order to get money to buy drugs. In most cases, however, it appears that the use of drugs does not cause violent behavior.[17]
Instead, it seems that violence and substance use are both part of a lifestyle that involves antisocial and delinquent behavior. In many cases, the violent behavior actually comes before the substance use. The drug use is just one aspect of a risky and dangerous lifestyle.[18],[19]
While the use of drugs does not generally cause teens to become involved in violence, those violent teens who do use illegal drugs tend to engage in violent behavior more frequently and to continue to engage in violence much longer than those violent youth that do not use drugs.[20]
Substance Use and Suicide
Teens that use alcohol and/or other drugs are much more likely to attempt and die by suicide.[21] In one study of teen suicide, drug and alcohol abuse was the most common characteristic of those who attempted suicide: 70% of the youth who died by suicide frequently used alcohol and/or other drugs.[22] However, research has not proven that drug and alcohol use actually causes suicidal behavior, only that the two behaviors are associated. It may be that teens that have emotional problems are more likely to use drugs and to contemplate suicide. Anotherpossibility is that the use of drugs aggravates pre-existing depression or other emotional problems. Drugs and alcohol may also impair the judgment of teens considering suicide, making suicide attempts more likely.