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Alcohol is especially associated with increased risk for violence. Other drugs, not so much. Most violence related to illicit drugs is not caused by intoxicati
by kirsebaer 11y ago
Alcohol is especially associated with increased risk for violence. Other drugs, not so much.
Most violence related to illicit drugs is not caused by intoxication, but rather by fighting and stealing between drug dealers.
So there is good arguement that drug prohibition increases violence by creating a criminal black-market (where people turn to violence rather than police and laws to resolve disputes) and by encouraging alcohol use rather than use of safer, less violence-inducing drugs.
- DanBC 11y agoAddiction is a useful predictor of violent behaviour. Previous violence is a better predictor. Both combined is stronger still. Mental illness by itself is a weak predictor (vast mojority of people with metal illness are not violet) but when you combine mental illness with addiction, or previous violence, or both, you get a strong predictor of violent behaviour. It's true that the illegality of drugs creates more violence. But that doesn't mean we should ignore the risks. Targetted bans for individuals who have shown that intoxication makes them more likely to harm other people seem reasonable.