The Relationship Between Illegal Drugs and Firearms: A Literature Review

Oscapella, Eugene
(July 1998) TR1998-8e

Research Summary

This study explores the links between firearms and illegal drugs. Two primary methods of investigation were utilized: a review of the literature, and interviews with Canadian police officers who have experience in the field of drug law enforcement. Little Canadian research has explored this connection, and therefore this study relied primarily on data from the U.S. and other countries. It was found that although some links between drugs and illegal firearms appear to be consistent from one country to another, there are also some very real differences between the experience of Canada as compared to that of the United States. Although this review was exploratory in nature, it identifies several links that might be worthy of further examination.

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This present study was funded by the Canada Firearms Centre, Department of Justice Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Justice Canada.

The information may be reproduced, in whole or in part and by any means, without further permission of the Department of Justice Canada. No such reproduction shall indicate that the Department of Justice is in any way responsible for the accuracy or reliability of the reproduction, nor shall any such reproduction indicate that it was made with the endorsement of, or in affiliation with, the Department of Justice Canada.