Armed violence and illicit drug trade. An integrative literature review on Brazil

Cien Saude Colet. 2025 Apr;30(4):e15142023. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232025304.15142023. Epub 2024 Apr 5.

ABSTRACT

The article maps relationships between armed violence (AV) and the illicit drug trade (IDT) in Brazil through an integrative review focused on empirical research. The sample included 20 articles, categorized according to year of publication and fieldwork, objectives, methods, study location and results. The results were interpreted based on thematic content analysis and showed that the relationship between IDT and AV occurs mainly through Organized Armed Violence. However, this violence spreads, affecting society, especially residents of peripheral areas. The following stood out: Availability of Firearms (AF), with a broad presence in the IDT environment; Illegality and violence, highlighting the need to use FA for the IDT due to its illegality and militarized perspective of repression; State action, thematizes the absence of preventive public security in peripheral areas and the violent, corrupt and ineffective action of the State; Armed territorial dominance, shows the strength of the organized IDT groups and the effects on the population; Young black people: primary victims and perpetrators, highlights the vulnerability of these young people to AV and also Health impacts.

PMID:40298725 | DOI:10.1590/1413-81232025304.15142023