Alcohol outlet density is a modifiable feature of neighborhoods associated with increased violence. However, few studies have examined whether alcohol outlet density is associated with gun violence specifically, and fewer still have done so using rigorous spatial analytic methods. Using Bayesian hierarchical space-time models, we assessed the associations between alcohol outlets and violent crime, gun crime, and gun violent crime at the census block group-level in San Diego from 2021-2023. We found a positive, well-supported association between overall alcohol outlet density and all three types of crime. An increase of ten alcohol outlets per mi 2 was associated with a 3.3% (95% CI: 1.023-1.043) increase in gun violent crime. Compared to restaurants, the percentages of off-premise outlets and bars/pubs both had positive, well-supported associations with all three types of crime. Limiting alcohol outlet density may be a promising public health approach for reducing gun violence.
This study provides new insight into young people’s knowledge about the harms of using substances, why young people use substances, as well as messages and information that could be incorporated into an mHealth intervention that could potentially reduce substance use among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH). Using culturally relevant information obtained from four focus groups with 27 YEH in summer 2024, the larger goal of this work is to communicate to youth, via a smartphone app, their risk for substance use along with providing services, support, and positive affirmations to reduce substance use. The findings from the focus groups demonstrate youths’ knowledge on the harms of using substances as well as creative ways researchers can incorporate content into a mobile platform, when developing mHealth interventions for YEH that will be culturally relevant to this population.
Substance abuse among university students is a growing public health concern, with significant implications for their physical, mental, and social well-being. Therefore, this investigation revolves around health literacy, perceived prevalence and health related risks associated with substance abuse. A survey research design was adopted in collecting data from 300 undergraduates using researchers’ self-administered questionnaire. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and chi-square tests were used to analyze the four research questions and hypotheses. The results revealed a high level of health literacy and perceived prevalence of the health risks associated with substance abuse. Health literacy was significantly associated with perceived prevalence of substance abuse, but no significant association was observed among health literacy, perceived prevalence of substance abuse, and health related risks. The findings suggest the need for preventive measures such as regular seminars, workshops, peer mentoring, and digital health campaigns to support students experiencing health related risks of substance-use.
Drawing on General Strain Theory (GST), this study examined associations between health-related strains, health-promoting behaviors, and adolescent substance use across five waves of Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) data from 18 countries. After adjustment for measured individual and contextual factors, poorer self-rated health and more frequent injuries were generally associated with higher probabilities of alcohol and cannabis use, whereas healthy eating was generally associated with lower probabilities. Physical exercise showed the least consistent pattern. Physical fighting exhibited the strongest and most consistent positive association with both outcomes. Average marginal effects indicated that associations were generally larger for alcohol than for cannabis use, while their magnitude varied across countries and waves. These findings suggest that health-related strains and behaviors are associated with adolescent substance use, but their strength and generalizability are context dependent.
Substance use disorder (SUD) places substantial demands on public safety systems, with law enforcement and other first responders routinely encountering substance use-related harms in daily work. This paper contributes to a growing body of research examining how law enforcement officers experience this burden and contextualize their role in SUD response. During interviews and focus groups in Kansas, officers highlighted that response options are shaped by high call volumes, limited time, constrained treatment capacity, and limited coordination across criminal legal and health systems. Officers described “revolving doors” of arrest and release, and tensions between enforcement responsibilities and expectations to address health and social needs. Officers recognized SUD as linked to socioeconomic conditions, emphasizing these conditions cannot be addressed through enforcement. They did, however, identify support mechanisms for those needing services, including co-responder models, diversion, and follow-up. Findings highlight the need for coordinated, health-centered policies that reduce reliance on punitive responses.
