Abstract
PURPOSE: Homicide mortality rates have historically been higher among African-Americans (AAs) than whites in the US. There has been a significant decrease in homicide mortality in New York City (NYC) during the past decade. We were interested in determining how disparities in homicide mortality between racial/ethnic groups have changed during that time and if drugs played a role in these changes. METHODS: All homicides in the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner records for 1990–1998 were identified. We calculated annual age and race standardized rates of homicide with positive toxicology. We calculated proportions of white, AA, and Hispanic decedents with positive cocaine, opiates, cannabis, and alcohol toxicology for each year in the period. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 1998, overall homicide rate decreased from 28.6 to 6.92 per 100,000 (75.8%). In 1990, the homicide rates among AAs and Hispanics were 9.5 and 8.2 times greater than among whites respectively. In 1998, homicides among AAs and Hispanics were 7.9 and 3.8 times greater than among whites. Proportion of homicide decedents with positive toxicology was stable and similar for all three groups between 1990-98 (range: 74.6% to 89.2%). The proportion of homicide decedents with positive cocaine toxicology declined, the proportion of decedents with positive cannabis toxicology increased, and the proportion of opiate and alcohol positive decedents was stable during the period. Changes in proportions of drug-positive homicide decedents were similar for all drugs for whites, AAs, and Hispanics between 1990–1998. DISCUSSION: Although overall homicide rates in NYC declined between 1990–98, there remained substantial disparities in homicide rates between whites, AAs, and Hispanics at the end of the decade. Proportions of homicide deaths with positive toxicology changed similarly in all three racial/ethnic groups. Factors other than drug use likely account for the persisting racial/ethnic disparities in homicide rates in NYC.
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