Citation

Rosenfeld R, Wallman J, Roth R. J. Res. Crime Delinq. 2021; 58(5): 545-590.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0022427820986848

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:Evaluate the relationship between the opioid epidemic and homicide rates in the United States.

METHODS:A county-level cross-sectional analysis covering the period 1999 to 2015. The race-specific homicide rate and the race-specific opioid-related overdose death rate are regressed on demographic, social, and economic covariates.

RESULTS:The race-specific opioid-related overdose death rate is positively associated with race-specific homicide rates, net of controls. The results are generally robust across alternative samples and model specifications.

CONCLUSIONS:We interpret the results as reflecting the violent dynamics of street drug markets, although more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions about the mechanisms linking opioid demand and homicide.

Language: en

Keywords

causes/correlates; communities and crime; crime; drug abuse; drugs; violence