Study Looks at Factors That May Foreshadow Violent Acts

The aftermath of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colo.,
has left many authorities questioning whether a propensity to violent acts
or drug use can be predicted.

A new USC study begun long before the April shooting provides some of the
first clues to such predictors. Among the important factors are being a
victim of violence, identifying with certain groups on campus, such as gang
members and "stoners" (drug users), and smoking marijuana. Psychologist
Steven Sussman and his colleagues studied 55 boys and girls, ages 15 to 19,
who are students at Southern California continuation high schools special
schools for youths with discipline or academic problems. Unlike students in
conventional high schools, fully 70% reported when they were first
interviewed of having been involved in violence against property or people.
Students who identified themselves as belonging to the high risk groups,
such as gang members and stoners, reported significantly more alcohol,
marijuana and other drug use in the year following the interview and a much
higher number of reports of violence. Surprisingly, according to Sussman,
use of alcohol, amphetamines and heroin did not predict later violence.

The only drug they found that did have such predictive value was marijuana.
The results will be published in upcoming issues of Psychology of Addictive
Behavior and the American Journal of Health Behavior.