• Sarah A Stoddard, Quyen Epstein-Ngo, Maureen A Walton, Marc A Zimmerman, Stephen T Chermack, Frederic C Blow, Brenda M Booth, and Rebecca M Cunningham.
• 1University of Michigan, School of Nursing , 400 North Ingalls, Room 3344, Ann Arbor , USA.
• Subst Use Misuse. 2015 Feb 1; 50 (3): 328-39.

BackgroundWhile researchers have identified factors that contribute to youth violence, less is known about the details of violent incidents. In addition, substance use has been linked to youth violence; however, little is known about actual substance use on days in which violence occurs.ObjectiveThis study examined reasons for peer violence and the association between substance use and violence using daily calendar-based analyses among at-risk urban youth.MethodsData were collected from Emergency Department (ED) patients (ages 14-24; n = 599; 59% male, 65% African American) who screened positive for substance use in the past 6 months. Daily data regarding past 30-day substance use and violence and reasons for violent incidents were obtained via semi-structured interviews. Multi-level multinomial regression models were conducted to test the associations between substance use and peer violence incidents (i.e., none, moderate and severe).ResultsConflict over 'personal belongings' was a common reason for violence among males; 'jealousy'/'rumors' were common reasons among females. Moderate victimization was more likely to be reported on days in which participants reported alcohol and cocaine use. Severe victimization was more likely to be reported on days in which participants reported alcohol use. Moderate or severe aggression was more likely to be reported on days in which participants reported alcohol and non-medical sedative use.ConclusionsRESULTS suggest that youth violence prevention that addresses differential reasons for violence among males and females as well as substance use would be beneficial.

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