The most common reasons for fights include turf, respect, jealousy over women, and domestic violence. Male adult gang members report access to multiple weapons, while nearly all female adults ex-gang members did not have ready access to guns. Drug related violence represents between a third and half of all gang violence, which is a small, but unknown percentage of the total violence in the communities studied. Most drug related violence was related to the illegal nature of the drug market. In other words, absent legal controls of drug markets, gang members used illicit means, including violence, to control customers, to defend market share, and to keep employees in line.
New jacks are significantly more likely to engage in drive-by shootings and drug related violence.
Most female gang members joined the gang of their own volition. A few girls were sexually exploited and physically threatened while in the gang. The drug selling business was also characterized by repeated sexual exploitation and violence toward women. Gang involvement is a major risk factor for drug use, but the reasons for adult and adolescent drug use differ. Cocaine use is a major problem for male and female gang members, as it is in the neighborhoods where gangs persist, the city as a whole, and the suburbs.