Perpetrators, victims and observers of violence - A chronic and non-chronic drug users

The purposes of this analysis were (a) to compare the prevalence of violenc e among a sample of chronic drug users (CDUs) and non-chronic drug users (N CDUs) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and (b) to determine the level of risk of becoming a victim, perpetrator, or observer of violence if one uses dru gs. In interviews, 1,479 CDUs and NCDUs provided information about their ex periences with violence. CDUs were significantly more likely than NCDUs to have perpetrated all violent acts. However CDUs were also significantly mor e likely than NCDUs to have been the victim or observer of violent acts as well. This finding should shift our views of CDUs to include the latter rol es. Specific intervention strategies are recommended to facilitate violence reduction in this population.