Neighborhood Crime and Alcohol Outlets in Flint, MI

Objective:  To determine individual and neighborhood predictors of violence in an impoverished urban setting. 

Methods: We used data from the Flint youth intervention study, a cross-sectional sample of 1452 youth from 14-24 years of age.  Individual address is summed into census block groups (n= 120 in Flint).  Individual experience of violence as perpetrator and/or victim is assessed using a screening survey conducted in the emergency department.  Individual substance use is also assessed as is collective efficacy and weapons experience.  Alcohol outlet information from 2011 Michigan state date, as well as clean and green parcel data from the city program is included, as is violent crime and drug crime data (for hot spots).  We also examine how adjacent neighborhoods at the block group level.

Results:  Hot spots of violent crime were found to be related to higher density of alcohol outlets and drug market activity.   Density of individual drug use and alcohol use is significantly related to violent crime.  This was found for adjacent census blocks as well.   Increased weapons experience is related to higher densities of crime and alcohol outlets. We also found that individuals with substance use problems lived closer to alcohol outlets and hot spots of drug related arrests.

Conclusion:  Hot spots of violent crime and drug related arrests were found to increase risk of substance use, alcohol and drug use.  This held true for adjacent areas as well.  Neighborhood features had an effect above and beyond individual effects in predicting individual substance use.