Association Between Substance Use and Gun-Related Behaviors

Abstract

Gun-related violence is a public health concern. This study synthesizes findings on associations between substance use and gun-related behaviors. Searches through PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO located 66 studies published in English between 1992 and 2014. Most studies found a significant bivariate association between substance use and increased odds of gun-related behaviors. However, their association after adjustment was mixed, which could be attributed to a number of factors such as variations in definitions of substance use and gun activity, study design, sample demographics, and the specific covariates considered. Fewer studies identified a significant association between substance use and gun access/possession than other gun activities. The significant association between nonsubstance covariates (e.g., demographic covariates and other behavioral risk factors) and gun-related behaviors might have moderated the association between substance use and gun activities. Particularly, the strength of association between substance use and gun activities tended to reduce appreciably or to become nonsignificant after adjustment for mental disorders. Some studies indicated a positive association between the frequency of substance use and the odds of engaging in gun-related behaviors. Overall, the results suggest a need to consider substance use in research and prevention programs for gun-related violence.

Keywords: gun-related behaviors; mental disorders; substance use.

Figure 1.

Household firearm ownership rate and firearm violence in the United States, 1993–2013. Gray bars show household gun ownership rate; diamonds show firearm suicide deaths per 100,000 persons; triangles show firearm homicide deaths per 100,000 persons; and circles show nonfatal firearm victimizations per 1,000 persons aged ≥12 years. Data were compiled from different sources (–7).

Figure 2.

Flowchart of article identification.