Neighborhood, crime, and substance use: A population-wide investigation

Neighborhood social structure has been considered one of the core determinants of criminal behavior and substance misuse for several decades.

Given that municipality policies often target neighborhood-level structures and processes, it is particularly critical to understand neighborhood-level factors.

We propose a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the association between neighborhood social structure and criminal behavior and substance misuse.

Importantly, we will characterize neighborhood social structure in a novel way by applying advanced structural equation modeling techniques.

Furthermore, we aim to examine whether the associations of neighborhood with criminal behavior and substance misuse could be due to confounding from familial contributions or selection effects.

In addition, we will study whether the association between criminal behavior and substance misuse is moderated by neighborhood social structure. To reach these aims, we will utilize population data from Swedish national registries in combination with cohort data.

A comprehensive understanding of the association between neighborhood social structure and criminal behavior and substance misuse will provide an unparalleled opportunity for direct action at the policy level.