Comparative rates of violent crime among regular methamphetamine and opioid users: offending and victimization

Abstract

Aims: To determine the comparative levels of violent offending and victimization among regular methamphetamine and heroin users.

Design: Cross-sectional Setting Sydney, Australia.

Participants: A total of 400 regular methamphetamine (METH) and heroin (HER) users (118 methamphetamine users: METH; 161 regular heroin users: HER; 121 regular users of both: BOTH).

Findings: Eighty-two per cent reported a life-time history of committing violent crime, 41% in the past 12 months. There were no group differences in life-time violence, but the METH group were significantly more likely than the HER group to have committed violence in the past 12 months (odds ratio 1.94). Nearly all (95%) reported that they had been a victim of violent crime, 46% in the preceding 12 months, with no group differences. Those who had committed a violent crime in the past 12 months were 13.23 times more likely to have been a victim in that period. The majority believed it unlikely that they would be a victim of (78%), or commit (87%), a violent crime in the next 12 months.

Conclusions: Regular methamphetamine use appears to be associated with an increased risk of violent offending, but not victimization, compared with heroin use.