A Multidimensional Criminological Analysis of the Drug–Violence Nexus

Abstract

The issues of drug abuse and violent crime continue to be social, criminological and public-health problems. But a causal assumption, that drug consumption directly results in violent behavior, cannot entirely explain the relationship between drug use and violence. This study focuses on the drug–violence relationship and employ inductive qualitative analysis of secondary evidence with special emphasis upon Pakistan. The study is based on a range of peer-reviewed literature, international reports, official documents and criminological research. An interpretivism philosophy was used and an inductive qualitative documentary design to identify recurrent explanations and mechanisms in the evidence. Theories applied as lenses were classical criminological theories (Goldstein's tripartite theory, social learning theory, strain theory, social disorganization theory and routine activity theory) and not causal theories. Four dimensions are outlined pharmacological, economic, social and structural all of which are interrelated. Recent findings suggest that substance use is associated with violence, which can be positive or negative depending on the type of substance, individual characteristics, social context and illicit market conditions (Curtis et al., 2024; World Health Organization, 2024). The prevalence of drug use is also increasing globally, with an estimated 316 million drug users in 2023 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2025). The four-dimensional drug violence nexus model has been introduced, which views violence as the product of individual, economic, social and structural mechanisms, all of which interact and act as sources of violence. These findings justify the development of a comprehensive strategy based on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, socio-economic measures, local actions and measures taken to systematically combat drug markets.