Darke, ShaneTorok, MichelleKaye, SharleneRoss, JoanneMcKetin, Rebecca2015-12-130965-2140http://hdl.handle.net/1885/79215Aims To determine the comparative levels of violent offending and victimization among regular methamphetamine and heroin users. Design Cross-sectional Setting Sydney, Australia. Participants A total of 400 regular methamphetamine (METH) and heroin (HER) users (118 methamphetamine users: METH; 161 regular heroin users: HER; 121 regular users of both: BOTH). Findings Eighty-two per cent reported a life-time history of committing violent crime, 41% in the past 12 months. There were no group differences in life-time violence, but the METH group were significantly more likely than the HER group to have committed violence in the past 12 months (odds ratio 1.94). Nearly all (95%) reported that they had been a victim of violent crime, 46% in the preceding 12 months, with no group differences. Those who had committed a violent crime in the past 12 months were 13.23 times more likely to have been a victim in that period. The majority believed it unlikely that they would be a victim of (78%), or commit (87%), a violent crime in the next 12 months. Conclusions Regular methamphetamine use appears to be associated with an increased risk of violent offending, but not victimization, compared with heroin use.Keywords: adolescent; adult; aged; article; drug abuse; epidemiology; female; heroin dependence; human; male; middle aged; statistics; victim; violence; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Crime Victims; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Heroin Dep Crime; Heroin; Methamphetamine; Offending; Victimization; Violence201010.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02872.x2016-02-24