ArticleLiterature Review

Drugs of abuse and the elicitation of human aggressive behavior

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Abstract

The drug-violence relationship exists for several reasons, some direct (drugs pharmacologically inducing violence) and some indirect (violence occurring in order to attain drugs). Moreover, the nature of that relationship is often complex, with intoxication, neurotoxic, and withdrawal effects often being confused and/or confounded. This paper reviews the existing literature regarding the extent to which various drugs of abuse may be directly associated with heightened interpersonal violence. Alcohol is clearly the drug with the most evidence to support a direct intoxication-violence relationship. The literatures concerning benzodiazepines, opiates, psychostimulants, and phencyclidine (PCP) are idiosyncratic but suggest that personality factors may be as (or more) important than pharmacological ones. Cannabis reduces likelihood of violence during intoxication, but mounting evidence associates withdrawal with aggressivity. The literature on the relationship between steroids and aggression is largely confounded, and between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and aggression insufficient to draw any reasonable conclusions. Conclusions and policy implications are briefly discussed.

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... Comorbidity between these two conditions is complex. On the one hand, substance use can directly influence aggressive behaviour (through disinhibitory and acute effects) or indirectly (through exposure to violence, personality traits and social context) (Hoaken and Stewart, 2003). ...
... An increased risk for abnormal or pathological aggression has been described in individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders (Ghossoub et al., 2019;Hoaken and Stewart, 2003;Kalk et al., 2022). More precisely, several drugs of abuse, such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis, have been related to a higher risk for aggressive behaviour (Boles and Miotto, 2003;Hoaken and Stewart, 2003). ...
... An increased risk for abnormal or pathological aggression has been described in individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders (Ghossoub et al., 2019;Hoaken and Stewart, 2003;Kalk et al., 2022). More precisely, several drugs of abuse, such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis, have been related to a higher risk for aggressive behaviour (Boles and Miotto, 2003;Hoaken and Stewart, 2003). On the other hand, it is also possible that aggressive behaviour increases risk for substance use or addiction, and underlying biological mechanisms may contribute to both disorders. ...
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Co-occurrence of substance use disorders (SUD) and aggressive behaviour in the same individual has been frequently described. As dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) are key neurotransmitters for both phenotypes, we explored the genetic contribution of these pathways to SUD, aggressive behaviour and related behavioural traits. Here, we tested the association of 275 dopaminergic genes and 176 serotonergic genes with these phenotypes by performing gene-based, gene-set and transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) in 11 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets on SUD (alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, opioids and a multivariate analysis of three drugs of abuse), aggressive behaviour (disruptive behaviour and antisocial behaviour) and related behaviours (irritability, neuroticism, risk taking and anxiety). At the gene-wide level, 68 DA and 27 5-HT genes were found to be associated with at least one GWAS on SUD or related behaviour. Among them, six genes had a pleiotropic effect, being associated with at least three phenotypes: ADH1C, ARNTL, CHRNA3, HPRT1, HTR1B and DRD2, the latter with five. Additionally, we found nominal associations between the DA gene sets and antisocial behaviour, opioid use disorder, SUD, irritability and neuroticism, and between the 5-HT-core gene set and neuroticism. Gene expression correlates in brain were also found for 19 genes, highlighting the association for CHRNA3 and CELSR3 with OUD, SUD and irritability and CELSR3 also with neuroticism. Our study shows a pleiotropic contribution of dopaminergic and serotonergic genes to addiction, aggression and related behaviours, highlighting a special role for DA genes, which could explain, in part, the co-occurrence of these phenotypes.
... There is a well-known relationship between substance use disorders (SUD) and criminal offending [2][3][4]. A meta-analysis by Bennet et al., from 2008 concludes that the odds of offending are three-to four-times greater for people with SUD [2], and the prevalence of SUD is substantially higher in prisoners than in the general population [5,6]. ...
... Regarding alcohol and crime, however, it has been established that alcohol increases the risk of violent behaviour and violent crime [3,18]. Both a pattern of regular drinking and acute influence of alcohol intake increase the risk of committing violent assaults [19]. ...
... Regarding stimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine and violent crime, research is somewhat inconclusive [3]. There are studies that show a correlation between amphetamine and violent crime [11,23]. ...
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Criminal recidivism is a major global concern. There is a well-known association between substance use disorders and offending. Yet, little is known about crime-specific recidivism. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between specific substance use and crime-specific recidivism. The study is based on 4207 Swedish prison clients with substance use assessed with Addiction Severity Index interviews between 2001 and 2006. Clients were followed for an average of 2.7 years. Risk factors for criminal recidivism were assessed with the Cox regression analysis. Sixty-eight percent of the clients returned to the criminal justice system. Apart from well-known risk factors such as male gender and young age, amphetamine, injection drug use, prior prosecution for violent and property crime, as well as homelessness and psychiatric problems, were risk factors for criminal recidivism. Sedatives and cannabis were, in this setting, negative risk factors for general recidivism. Age, heroin and injection drug use elevated the risks of recidivism to property and drug crime. Alcohol was associated with violent recidivism. When analysing different categories of crime separately, risk factors differed substantially. This further highlights the need for crime-specific research. Identifying crime-specific risk factors should be an important part of improving rehabilitation into society after imprisonment and hopefully decrease recidivism.
... Taken together, alcohol and drugs can alter the psychomotor system which results in more aggressive acts, distort attention to selective, salient environmental cues, and hinder the internal inhibition and decision-making systems that control aggressive impulses. Aligned with the I 3 theory and the GAM of aggression, lowered inhibition and enhanced attention to negative cues lead to a propensity to engage in aggressive behaviors (Anderson & Bokor, 2012;Giancola et al., 2010;Hoaken & Stewart, 2003). ...
... The present study adopted a naturalistic, longitudinal design to examine (1) the reciprocal relationships between each form of aggression, somatic symptoms, and alcohol and drug use and (2) physical aggression was consistent with the previous findings on the positive association between drug use and aggression (Hoaken & Stewart, 2003;Roozen et al., 2011;Stuart et al., 2008). According to the I 3 theory of aggression, inhibiting factors moderate the association between an instigating factor and aggression propensity (Finkel et al., 2012). ...
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The current study examined the state- and trait-level associations of psychological and physical aggression to somatic symptoms, and alcohol and drug use and tested the influence of distress tolerance on these associations, while controlling for stress, sex, and minority status. A naturalistic observation was used to collect data with a sample of 245 college students at three time points with 2 weeks apart. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to disaggregate within-person effects (autoregressive and cross-lagged effects) from the between-person (latent trait-level) associations. The findings revealed that there were autoregressive effects of psychological aggression between Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2) and of physical aggression between T1 and T2. There was a bidirectional association between psychological aggression and somatic symptoms at T2 and Time 3 (T3), in which T2 psychological aggression predicted T3 somatic symptoms and verse vera. T1 drug use predicted T2 physical aggression, which in turn predicted T3 somatic symptoms, indicating physical aggression being a mediator between earlier drug use and later somatic symptoms. Distress tolerance was negatively associated with psychological aggression and somatic symptoms, respectively, and such an influence did not differ across time occasions. The findings indicated the importance of incorporating physical health in the prevention and intervention of psychological aggression. Clinicians may also consider including psychological aggression in the screening of somatic symptoms or physical health. Empirical-supported therapy components for enhancing distress tolerance may help mitigate psychological aggression and somatic symptoms.
... Alcohol stimulates gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors and dampens the neurobiological sensitivity to danger [39,40]. Chronic [41] or short-term binge drinking [42] dysregulates serotonin levels and boosts dopamine levels, stimulating psychomotor activity and resulting in thrill-seeking, provocative behaviors, and aggression [40,43]. Alcohol impairs cognitive function and in uences decision-making process and responses to con ict [43][44][45][46]. ...
... Chronic [41] or short-term binge drinking [42] dysregulates serotonin levels and boosts dopamine levels, stimulating psychomotor activity and resulting in thrill-seeking, provocative behaviors, and aggression [40,43]. Alcohol impairs cognitive function and in uences decision-making process and responses to con ict [43][44][45][46]. Alcohol has a major role in violent offenses in individuals with severe mental illness [47,48]. ...
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Although the media often portrays violent criminal offenders as insane, the crime rate of individuals with severe mental illness is not higher than that of the general population. Social isolation in prisons or general psychiatric hospitals is thus a seemingly futile measures in crime prevention. However, few Asian studies have investigated the risk factors associated with violent criminal offenders with mental illness. The study collected 568 offenses from forensic psychiatric assessment reports completed at a psychiatric center from October 2009 to October 2021, excluding sexual offenses. The offenders were classified as violent offenders or nonviolent offenders. The study analyzed the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and forensic information of the offenders, and assessed their associations with violent crimes. Most offenders (n = 568) were male (74.5%), unemployed (91.4%), and single (92.8%). Compared with offenders without schizophrenia spectrum disorders (n = 287), offenders with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (n = 281) did not have significantly more alcohol use disorder (12.5% vs. 21.3%, p = .007), other substance use disorders (19.2% vs. 16.4%, p = .382), or commit more violent crimes (23.5% vs. 13.8%, p = .209). Men (OR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.35–3.38) and those diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.02–2.57) were more likely to commit violent crimes. Offenders with a diagnosis of intellectual disability (OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.19–0.73) were less likely to have commit violent crimes. Alcohol use disorder was the only dynamic factor associated with violent criminal offenders with mental illness.
... 13 Moreover, cannabis withdrawal increased the likelihood of interpersonal aggression. 12,14 Age of first use seems to be a moderator of the potential effect of cannabis on perpetrating other-directed aggression. Self-reported use of cannabis at 15 years of age, but not at the age of 18, significantly predicted involvement in violence at 19 years of age, after controlling for socio-demographic variables and antecedents of aggressive behavior. ...
... Yes answer to (12). Yes answers to (13) AND (14). ...
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Cannabis is the most widely used drug worldwide. Data about the association of cannabis use with aggression is heterogeneous. The objective of the current study was to assess the nature of the association between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and self-directed, other-directed, and combined aggression. We used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health across 2008 to 2014, with a pooled sample of 270,227 adult respondents. We used regression models to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for those having CUD perpetrating each form of aggression compared with no aggression and other-directed compared with self-directed aggression. CUD was associated with significantly increased odds of committing other-directed (adjusted OR [aOR] = 1.42, 95 percent CI = 1.261.60) and combined aggression (aOR = 2.11, 95 percent CI = 1.363.26) compared with no aggression. CUD was associated with a nonstatistically significant risk of other-directed compared with self-directed aggression (aOR = 1.29, 95 percent CI = .971.69). In those 18 to 25 years old, CUD was significantly associated with an increased differential risk of other-directed versus self-directed aggression (aOR = 1.29, 95 percent CI = 1.031.62). Cannabis use disorder seems to increase the risk of other-directed aggression compared with self-directed aggression, especially among youths.
... Many studies in the literature have shown that adolescents with Internet addiction show more aggressive tendencies than nonaddicted peers [25,26]. These results are similar to various other types of addiction in regard to aggressive behavior [27][28][29][30]. Moreover, the relationship between anger control and aggressive behavior has also been acknowledged in empirical studies [31,32]. ...
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Adolescence is a crucial developmental period characterized by physical, emotional, and social changes. This makes adolescents particularly vulnerable to various stressors, including Internet addiction. The increasing prevalence of Internet use has brought new challenges, as excessive and uncontrolled engagement with digital platforms, often referred to as Internet addiction, can disrupt emotional regulation and increase behavioral difficulties. Anger control, an important component of emotional wellbeing at this stage, is particularly affected by Internet addiction and can lead to aggressive tendencies and long-term emotional problems. This study examines the mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between Internet addiction and anger control among adolescents between the ages of 12 and 14. A total of 406 students, selected using convenience sampling, participated in the study. Data were collected from the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Trait Anger and Anger Expression (T-Anger and AngerEX) scale, and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-12). Statistical analyses, including regression and mediation analyses, were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS with 5000 bootstrap samples. The results show a significant negative relationship between Internet addiction and both psychological resilience and anger control, with Internet addiction explaining 20.2% of the variance in resilience and 11.5% in anger control. In addition, psychological resilience partially mediated the relationship between Internet addiction on anger control, explaining 25.1% of the variance. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing psychological resilience as a protective factor to mitigate the negative impact of Internet addiction on adolescents’ emotional regulation.
... Demenciában szenvedő betegeknél a heteroagresszív viselkedés különböző formáinak előfordulása 28 és 67% között mozog [22,23]. A kábítószer-használat [3,24,25] és még a mérsékelt alkoholfogyasztás is növeli a heteroagresszív viselkedés valószínűségét [25,26]. Az agresszió fokozott kockázata társul antiszociális, borderline, hisztrionikus, nárcisztikus és paranoid személyiségzavarokhoz [27][28][29][30]. ...
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Az agresszív viselkedés gyakran oka az akut pszichi-átriai osztályos felvételnek. A fokozottan agresszív bete-gek ellátására az Országos Mentális, Ideggyógyászati és Idegsebészeti Intézetben a közelmúltban speciális rész-leget indítottak. A vizsgálat célja a heteroagresszív viselkedés előfor-dulásának és időbeli változásának felmérése akut pszi-chiátriai osztályra felvett betegek körében és a potenciá-lisan magas biztonságú részlegre helyezendő betegek meghatározása. A vizsgálatban egy 5 hónapos időszak alatt, egy városi kórház pszichiátriai osztályának akut pszichiátriai részlegére felvételre került betegeknél a kezelés első hetében előfordult heteroagresszív viselke-désre vonatkozó adatok kerültek feldolgozásra. A hetero-agresszív viselkedés felmérése a rutin ápolási munka részeként történt. A felméréshez a Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression-Inpatient Version (DASA-IV) kér-dőívet használtuk, amelyhez két további tétel került hoz-záadásra a fizikai fenyegetés és a fizikai támadás jelenlé-tének felmérésére. A vizsgált időszak alatt összesen 290 beteg került felvételre. A betegek 60%-a mutatott hetero-agresszív viselkedést, a férfiak magasabb arányban. A felvételt követő első 12 órában megfigyelt heteroagresz-szió szintje szignifikánsan korrelált a kezelés első heté-ben tapasztalt magasabb fokú heteroagresszióval. A fizi-kai fenyegetést és tényleges fizikai agressziót mutató betegek pontszáma szignifikánsan magasabb volt a keze-lés első hete alatt. A heteroagresszió valamely formája leggyakrabban mentális retardációban, paranoid zava-rokban, bipoláris zavarban és demenciában szenvedő betegeknél fordult elő. A DASA-IV pontszám legkorábban alkalmazkodási zavarban, legkevésbé pedig a mentális retardációban szenvedő betegeknél csökkent az első hét folyamán. A terápia hatására a kezelés 4. napjára a bete-gek többségénél a heteroagresszív viselkedés jelentősen csökkent, kivéve mentális retardációban. Eredményeink alapján az akut pszichiátriai felvételre kerülő betegek többségénél a kezelés első 3 napja után-a mentális retardációban szenvedőket kivéve-nincs szükség magas biztonságú részlegen történő elhelyezésre. Kulcsszavak: pszichiátria, fekvőbetegek, heteroagresszió, magas biztonságú részleg, mentális retardáció Characteristics of heteroaggressive behavior in patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward Aggression is a common cause of acute psychiatric admission. In the National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology and Neurosurgery a new, high security psychiatric unit was launched. The aim of this study was to observe and evaluate the occurrence and change over time of heteroaggressive behavior among patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward, and defining what patient population should be potentially transferred to the high security unit. The study included those patients who were admitted to the acute psychiatric ward of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Rehabilitation of Jahn Ferenc South-Pest Hospital in a 5 months period. Data about hetero-aggressive behavior appeared during the first week of inpatient treatment has been processed. Evaluation of the occurrence of heteroaggressive behavior was part of the routine nursing care. Heteroaggressive behavior was assessed by the 7-item Dynamic Appraisal of Situatio-nal Aggression-Inpatient Version (DASA-IV) with two additional items evaluating the presence of physical threat and physical assault. DASA-IV questionnaire was completed by the nursing staff at the end of each 12-hours shift for a whole week. During the study period there were altogether 290 acute admissions. 60% (N=174) of the patients showed at least low level of heteroagg-ression. Among these patients, men had significantly higher scores of agression than women (p=0.008). The level of heteroaggression observed in the first 12 hours following admission significantly correlated with higher level of heteroaggression during the first week of treatment (p <0.001). Furthermore, appearance of physical threat and physical assault also had a significant predic-tive effect on the higher DASA-IV score during the observational period (p <0.001). Considering the diagnostic groups, any form of heteroaggression occurred most frequently in patients with mental retardation, paranoid disorders, bipolar disorders and dementia. DASA-IV score decreased at the earliest in patients with adjustment disorder, and at the latest in patients with mental retardation during the first week of treatment. As a result of effective therapy, till the fourth day of treatment occurrence of heteroaggressive behavior significantly decreased in all diagnostic groups, except mental retardation. Our results show that after the first 3 daysof inpatient treatment most acutely admitted patients donot need to be transferred to a special high security unitdue to persistent heteroaggressive behavior, exceptsome patients with mental retardation. Keywords: psychiatric inpatients, heteroaggression, highsecurity unit, mental retardation
... Though cannabis generally is not associated with violent or aggressive behaviour, it has side effects that might enhance the risk for violence, drug-induced psychosis and cognitive deficit (Lundqvist, 2010;Cannizzaro et al., 2016). It has also been shown by Hoaken and Stewart (2003) in laboratory studies that small doses of withdrawal from cannabis enhance the risk for aggressive behaviour. Rapid changes in heart rate and diastolic blood pressure, conjunctiva suffusion, dry mouth and throat, and increased appetite are some of the effects of cannabinoids in humans (Sharma et al., 2012). ...
Article
Background Crimes recorded by law enforcement agencies may be directly or indirectly related to drugs. There is growing concern about the increasing illicit drug use in Ghana, especially among younger people, which is perceived by many as contributing to the increase in criminal activities. The main objective of this research is to explore the role of illicit drugs and alcohol use in relation to crime among prison inmates. The study was carried out at the Kumasi Central Prison to investigate drug use among inmates through empirical interviews and drug tests. A semi-structured interview questionnaire was used to collect qualitative and quantitative demographic data from the prison inmates and the police officers. The inmates were tested for illicit drug use by rapid immune assay test and High performance liquid chromatography. Results The study revealed that the majority of the inmates had used one type of illicit substance or the other, even though only 6% of the inmates tested positive for cannabis. About 40% of respondents were incarcerated as a result of drug related crimes. 85% of persons previously arrested for drug crimes still had their current incarceration resulting from drugs. 82% of the respondents admitted that illicit substance use had both behavioural and psychological effects on the user and influenced crime commission. Conclusions Illicit substance use has a strong correlation to criminal activities. State institutions should prioritise the rehabilitation of drug convicts in order to minimise the reoccurrence of crimes. It is recommended that steps be taken to reduce the continuous traffic of drugs into prisons.
... 7 Alcohol has a stronger relationship with aggression than any other psychoactive substance. 8 The doseresponse relationship appears to follow an inverse U-shape, with an accelerated increase in the risk of aggressive behaviour with increasing blood alcohol concentrations (BAC), before dropping off at very high BAC. 6,9 Alcohol-induced decreases in the inhibitory control and impairments in decision-making processes and the processing of emotions are considered key neurobiological pathways to aggression. 5 However, other violence-impelling factors and socio-cultural norms play a pivotal role in exhibiting violence. ...
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Background: While alcohol use is an established risk factor for interpersonal violence, the extent to which people are affected by interpersonal violence from others’ drinking has not yet been quantified for different world regions. This modelling study aims to provide the first estimates of the national and regional prevalence of interpersonal violence from others’ drinking. Methods: An international systematic literature search (02/28/2023, Prospero: CRD42022337364) was conducted to identify general adult population studies assessing the prevalence of interpersonal violence from others’ drinking with no restrictions to publication date or language. Reports that did not provide data on interpersonal violence from others’ drinking (primary outcome), were no original research studies, or captured a selected group of people only, were excluded. Observed prevalence data were extracted and used to build fractional response regression models to predict past-year prevalence of emotional and physical violence from others’ drinking in 2019. Random-effects meta-regression models were used to aggregate the observed prevalence of sexual and intimate partner violence. Study risk of bias (ROB) was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Findings: Out of 13,835 identified reports, 50 were included covering just under 830,000 individuals (women: 347,112; men: 322,331; men/women combined: 160,057) from 61 countries. With an average prevalence of 16·8% (95% CI: 15·2–18·3%) and 28·3% (95% CI: 23·9–32·4%) in men and women combined in the GBD super regions High Income and Central Europe, Eastern Europe, & Central Asia, respectively, emotional violence was the most common form of interpersonal violence from others’ drinking. Physical violence averaged around 3% (women) and 5% (men) in both regions. The pooled prevalence of sexual violence from others’ drinking in men and women was 1·3% (95% CI: 0·5–3·3%, 95% PI: 0·1–16·9%) and 3·4% (95% CI: 1·4–8·3%, 95% PI: 0·2–35·3%), respectively, and ranged between 0·4% (95% CI: 0·1–1·6%, 95% PI: 0·0–7·3%) and 2·7% (95% CI: 1·1–6·3%, 95% PI: 0·2–30·0%) for different forms of intimate partner violence. ROB was moderate or critical for most reports; accounting for critical ROB did not substantially alter our results. Interpretation: The share of the population experiencing harms from others’ drinking is significant and should be an integral part of public health strategies. Funding: Research reported in this publication was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; grant: CIHR FRN 477887).
... In the USA, statistics reveals the vast majority of teenagers using soft drugs are not involved in violent offences, which has been one of the reasons for legalizing cannabis in Canada in 2018. Other researchers highlight a close relationship between cannabis and aggressive behavior, noting that, while reducing the risk of aggressive behavior during intoxication, cannabis does increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior during abstinence (21,35). Analysis of Brazilian experience has revealed that hard drugs, in particular cocaine, determine violent offenses to a greater extent (1). ...
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Crime is known to be the result of interaction between internal psychological processes, on one hand, and external objective-related factors, on the other hand. At the same time, criminologists and forensic psychologists have not yet conducted in-depth research into the psychological mechanism of communication between the individual and the situation at the time of the crime. The present study takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from philosophy, psychology, sociology and criminology, to examine criminal behavior through the prism of a phenomenon known as psychological dependence, which determines the perception and assessment of a specific life situation as a problem (conflict) and actualizes harm-doing as a means to overcome it. In the context of psychological dependence, the basic premise is that a crime is committed because of the manifestation of specific personality traits and the influence of a specific life situation.
... We observed that alcohol use was the most crucial risk factor for both self-harm and interpersonal violence. A prevailing hypothesis for these patterns suggests that alcohol use may affect an individual's neurological and psychological state [30], weakening inhibitions and judgment, and prompting more impulsive, risky, and aggressive behaviours [31], which may make people more susceptible to suffer head injuries and concussions while under the influence of alcohol [32]. Furthermore, we also found that drugs use, like alcohol use, acted as a key risk factor contributing to the global burden of self-harm and interpersonal violence. ...
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Introduction Widespread concern exists in today’s world regarding self-harm and interpersonal violence. This study to analyze the changes in temporal trends and spatial patterns of risk factors and burdens of self-harm and interpersonal violence using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. Methods Temporal trends in self-harm and interpersonal violence were initially summarized using the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). Data were compiled and visualized to delineate changes in disease burden and factors influencing self-harm and interpersonal violence from 1990 to 2019, stratified by gender, age and GBD region. Results In 2019, the DALY rates of self-harm were 424.7(95% UI 383.25, 466.93). Over the period from 1999 to 2019, self-harm exhibited an overall decreasing trend, with the EAPC of -1.5351 (95% CI -1.6194, -1.4507), -2.0205 (95% CI -2.166, -1.8740) and -2.0605 (95% CI -2.2089, -1.9119), respectively. In contrast, the incidence rate of interpersonal violence was significantly higher than self-harm, with a rate of 413.44 (95% UI 329.88, 502.37) per 100,000 population. Mortality and DALYs of interpersonal violence were lower than those of self-harm, at 5.22 (95% UI 4.87, 5.63) and 342.43 (95% UI 316.61, 371.55). Disease burden of self-harm and interpersonal violence varied by gender, age groups and region. Specific risk factors showed that alcohol use, high temperature and drug use were the main risk factors for self-harm, while alcohol use, intimate partner violence and high temperature were associated with interpersonal violence. Low temperature was a common protective factor for both self-harm and interpersonal violence. The burden of self-harm and interpersonal violence was attributed to different factors influences in different SDI regions. Conclusions The study explored temporal trends and spatial distribution of the global disease burden of self-harm and interpersonal violence, emphasizing the significant impact of factors such as alcohol use, temperature, and drug use on disease burden. Further research and policy actions are needed to interpret recent changes of disease burden of self-harm and interpersonal violence, and dedicated efforts should be implemented to devise evidence-based interventions and policies to curtail risk factors and protect high-risk groups.
... Alcohol and other intoxicants have significant effects on the psychomotor system, altering cognitive abilities and perception. Fear and threat awareness are dampened, the sensation of pain decreases (Hoaken & Stewart, 2003), the responsiveness to nonverbal cues reduces (Attwood & Munafò, 2014;Melkonian & Ham, 2016), and the willingness to engage in risky behavior increases (Miller & Fillmore, 2014). Several studies have demonstrated that blood alcohol levels above a certain concentration can facilitate aggression (Chermack & Giancola, 1997;De Sousa Fernandes Perna et al., 2016;Duke et al., 2011;Giancola, 2002;Kuypers et al., 2020). ...
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Objectives: Violence among soccer supporters continues to pose a significant public health concern in many parts of the world. In Switzerland, hooliganism is largely uninvestigated. This study aimed to examine incidents of violence and associated dental injuries among different groups of soccer supporters, as well as assess the impact of intoxicants on their behavior, using survey data from regular fans, ultras, and hooligans in the Swiss Football League. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a standardized questionnaire was conducted among distinct factions of soccer supporters in the Swiss Football League in 2022. A total of 165 participants self-identified as belonging to one of three subgroups: “regular fan,” “ultra,” or “hooligan.” Data were gathered on physical altercations, dental injuries, possession of mouthguards, intoxicant use, and medical assistance. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression models, and significance tests were used for data analysis (α = .05). Results: Hooligans had a higher frequency of dental injuries resulting from fights than ultras and regular fans. Hooligans with 11–20 fights per soccer season had a 9.6 times higher probability of dental trauma than those with 0–5 fights (p = .048). Possession of a mouthguard was associated with a lower risk of dental injuries for hooligans but an increased risk for ultras. Additionally, hooligans were found to differ significantly from other groups in their consumption of amphetamines and cocaine (p < .001). Conclusions: The study found a strong link between physical altercations and dental injuries among soccer supporters. To promote better prevention, there is a necessity for enhanced educational initiatives facilitated by dentists to amplify the dissemination of mouthguards. Furthermore, it is crucial to raise awareness regarding their proper fitting to minimize the occurrence of combat-related dental injuries. Health authorities and other stakeholders should take a comprehensive approach to addressing some of the root causes of violent behavior, which include alcohol abuse and illicit substance consumption.
... Thus, existing dysfunctional socio-cognitive processes are most likely to trigger violence when combined with alcohol intoxication (Clements and Schumacher 2010). It should however be noted that the facilitating influence of alcohol intoxication on violence can be multifold, including, for example, the psychomotor stimulant effect of alcohol, the alteration of the pain system, as well as cognitive interference, reduced inhibition, or misunderstanding of the situation (Hoaken and Stewart 2003). ...
Chapter
Severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD) is among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, leading to a wide range of deleterious consequences for the individual, their relatives and the society. Individuals suffering from SAUD are often tough to be more aggressive and violent. We reviewed the literature linking alcohol consumption and aggression to provide a synthesis of available evidence on this topic. In general, both acute alcohol consumption and SAUD are associated with an increase in the three subcomponents of aggression, namely anger, hostility and aggressive behaviors. We identified several mechanisms involved in the elicitation of aggression in SAUD, including hostility biases and the lack of emotional or cognitive control. Finally, we proposed treatments that specifically target these processes.
... However, most of the animal experiments reviewed in the present study focused on the role of CRF and urocortins in sociability and preference for social novelty, as well as the ability for social recognition, discrimination, and memory. By understanding the role of these neuropeptides and by targeting their receptors in social anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia, we might improve social interactions that are typically reduced in people suffering from such disorders [135][136][137][138][139][140]. ...
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Since the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was isolated from an ovine brain, a growing family of CRF-related peptides has been discovered. Today, the mammalian CRF system consists of four ligands (CRF, urocortin 1 (Ucn1), urocortin 2 (Ucn2), and urocortin 3 (Ucn3)); two receptors (CRF receptor type 1 (CRF1) and CRF receptor type 2 (CRF2)); and a CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP). Besides the regulation of the neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to stress, CRF and CRF-related peptides are also involved in different aspects of social behavior. In the present study, we review the experiments that investigated the role of CRF and the urocortins involved in the social behavior of rats, mice, and voles, with a special focus on sociability and preference for social novelty, as well as the ability for social recognition, discrimination, and memory. In general, these experiments demonstrate that CRF, Ucn1, Ucn2, and Ucn3 play important, but distinct roles in the social behavior of rodents, and that they are mediated by CRF1 and/or CRF2. In addition, we suggest the possible brain regions and pathways that express CRF and CRF-related peptides and that might be involved in social interactions. Furthermore, we also emphasize the differences between the species, strains, and sexes that make translation of these roles from rodents to humans difficult.
... Furthermore, the responses from Norwegian police departments to the proposed drug reform implicitly assume that cannabis use is very harmful, but comparative harms assessments universally agree that this illicit drug is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. To take a few obvious parameters for a comparison with alcohol use, cannabis use less commonly results in dependence formation (Anthony et al., 1994;Lopez-Quintero et al., 2011;Schlag, 2020), is less risky in terms of acute lethal toxicity (Gable, 2004;Lachenmeier & Rehm, 2015) and entails less violent behaviour (Boles & Miotto, 2003;Hoaken & Stewart, 2003). Alcohol intoxication also incurs a substantially stronger risk for traffic accidents than cannabis intoxication (Brubacher et al., 2019;Drummer et al., 2020;Li et al., 2017;Martin et al., 2017). ...
... These behaviors can also foster contact with offenders, for example, for the purpose of obtaining drugs, and drug addicts and alcoholics may engage in unlawful or other risky behaviors in order to get or pay for the substances (Camacho 2018;Díaz et al. 1997;Egli et al. 2009;Hanlon et al. 1990;Pierce et al. 2018). Likewise, inebriated or intoxicated people are more likely to engage in criminal or violent behavior (Felson and Staff 2010;Hoaken Peter and Stewart 2003;Howard and Menkes 2007;McClelland and Teplin 2001;Sontate et al. 2021), which in turn may result in their own victimization (Darke et al. 2010;Thoroddur, Sigurdardottir, and Thorlindsson 1999). ...
Article
Segmentation analysis and logistic regression were used to test the prob-abilistic connection between exposure to high-risk situations and victimiza-tion events, as posited by Lifestyle-exposure theory, in a sample of homeless people. The results support the hypothesis put forward. First, those who had engaged in risky behaviors had suffered victimization events to a greater extent. Second, this was particularly true for participants who had done so more frequently or had engaged in a wider range of such behaviors. The highest risk profile included those who had been arrested on several occa-sions and also reported having used drugs during the previous month or, otherwise, had served a sentence different from prison in the past. Implications of these findings are discussed considering that homeless peo-ple’s engagement in risky behaviors, as well as, in general, their greater degree of exposure to situations in which risk of victimization is high, often stem from the situation they are going through. A major conclusion is that any effort to eradicate violence against homeless people should contemplate strategies for combating homelessness itself.
... Many illicit drugs such cannabis, MDMA, and heroin instead tend to make users peaceful, and cannot reasonably be criminalized on this basis even in a society that criminalizes alcohol (Boles & Miotto, 2003;Hoaken & Stewart, 2003). Drug abuse is also a cause of the neglect and abuse of children, but when it comes to active forms of abuse, the close association between alcohol use and violent behavior indicates that alcohol is more of a problem than illicit drugs. ...
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Is the criminalization of possession, use, and distribution of some drugs an ethically defensible policy? This text uses criminalization theory as a framework for assessing the legitimacy of the international regime of drug control. It performs an analytical review of the explicit and implicit arguments and assumptions that have been presented by philosophers in favor of or in opposition to the policy of drug criminalization and assesses the validity of these arguments and assumptions in light of current empirical research. On the basis of this assessment, the text analyzes the case for drug criminalization according to the five extant criminalization theories – legal moralism, legal paternalism, the Millian perspective based on harm to others, the Kantian perspective based on sovereignty, and the neo-Aristotelian aretaic perspective. It concludes that none of these criminalization theories can justify drug criminalization, and that both the Kantian and Millian theories appear to actively speak against it. Drug criminalization therefore appears to be an ethically indefensible policy.
... Several studies have shown an association between alcohol use and the disruption of the psychomotor system with some degree of variation depending on the complexity of the task being analyzed [280,281]. Addictive substances such as alcohol may disrupt the psychomotor system and heighten motor activities such as approach, sensation seeking, and attacks, thus increasing one's potential aggressive behavior [282]. Same as other addictive drugs [283], alcohol may have disinhibiting effects on behavior as it induces a premature response based on preliminary stimulus evaluation in the "go/no go" verbal recognition task, reflecting its impulsive and psychomotor stimulant nature [284]. ...
Article
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Aggression can be conceptualized as any behavior, physical or verbal, that involves attacking another person or animal with the intent of causing harm, pain or injury. Because of its high prevalence worldwide, aggression has remained a central clinical and public safety issue. Aggression can be caused by several risk factors, including biological and psychological, such as genetics and mental health disorders, and socioeconomic such as education, employment, financial status, and neighborhood. Research over the past few decades has also proposed a link between alcohol consumption and aggressive behaviors. Alcohol consumption can escalate aggressive behavior in humans, often leading to domestic violence or serious crimes. Converging lines of evidence have also shown that trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could have a tremendous impact on behavior associated with both alcohol use problems and violence. However, although the link between trauma, alcohol, and aggression is well documented, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms and their impact on behavior have not been properly discussed. This article provides an overview of recent advances in understanding the translational neurobiological basis of aggression and its intricate links to alcoholism and trauma, focusing on behavior. It does so by shedding light from several perspectives, including in vivo imaging, genes, receptors, and neurotransmitters and their influence on human and animal behavior.
... Finally, cannabis withdrawal could also be in play, especially since it was shown to be linked with anxiety, irritability, and violence. 75,76 It is possible that part of our sample sporadically experiences cannabis withdrawal periods, for example, due to financial reasons or difficulties of access. Moreover, frequent cannabis use was previously shown to be associated with an increased likelihood of withdrawal symptoms. ...
Article
Introduction: Recent longitudinal studies point toward the existence of a positive relationship between cannabis use and violence in people with severe mental disorders (SMD). However, the existence of a dose-response relationship between the frequency/severity of cannabis use and violence has seldom been investigated. Therefore, this study aims to determine if such a relationship exists in a psychiatric population. Methods: To do so, a total of 98 outpatients (81 males and 17 females, all over 18 years of age) with SMD were recruited at the Institut universitaire de santé mentale de Montréal (Montréal, Canada) and included in the analyses. Clinical evaluations were conducted every 3 months for a year. Substance use, violent behaviors, and potential covariables were assessed through self-reported assessments, urinary testing, as well as clinical, criminal, and police records. Using generalized estimating equations, the association between cannabis use frequency (nonusers, occasional, regular, and frequent users) and violence was investigated, as well as the association between the severity of cannabis use and violent behaviors. Results: It was found that cannabis use frequency and severity were significant predictors of violent behaviors. After adjustment for time, age, sex, ethnicity, diagnoses, impulsivity, and use of alcohol and stimulants, odds ratios were of 1.91 (p<0.001) between each frequency profile and 1.040 (p<0.001) for each increase of one point of the severity of cannabis use score (ranging from 0 to 79). Conclusions: Despite the high attrition rate, these findings may have important implications for clinicians as cannabis use may have serious consequences in psychiatric populations. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear.
... Alcohol and substance abuse seems to be a risk factor for most forms of victimization. About half of all violent crimes worldwide involve alcohol (Hoaken & Stewart, 2003). Substance use is widely implicated in child maltreatment, homicide, sexual assault and intimate partner violence (Connell-Carrick, 2003;Yang & Maguire-Jack, 2018;Lundholm et al., 2013;Lorenz & Ullman, 2016;Krug et al., 2002;Spencer, et al., 2019;Assink et al., 2019). ...
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In mental health care today, the theory that interpersonal victimization may cause Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become progressively influential and is increasingly impacting clinical practice in the field. This is partially the result of a number of studies that have found an association between interpersonal victimization, such as child maltreatment or bullying, and ADHD. However, establishing causality in life-course research is a challenge. Human development is a dynamic and complex process and consequently, abundant with possible confounding factors. This study attempts to address the research question: Is interpersonal victimization a risk factor for ADHD? The process began with a systematic search for relevant studies and papers in PubMed and PsychINFO. Longitudinal studies that performed pre-and post-tests of outcome variables were included. The initial search results contained hundreds of studies, but only six studies met the criteria and were reviewed. Two studies examined polyvictimization and four studies examined peer victimization. In reviewing those empirical studies that examined interpersonal victimization as a risk factor for ADHD, results suggest that interpersonal victimization may be a small risk for increased ADHD symptoms. However, this effect seems to be temporary. Moreover, there appears to be substantial confounding affecting the association between victimization and ADHD. When controlling for genetics the association between victimization and ADHD disappears or is substantially reduced. The lack of studies with a minimal control for confounding suggests a need for further research in this area and clinical caution.
... On the other hand, the highest incidence of maxillofacial injuries was found in the young group due to road accidents, interpersonal violence, and alcohol and drug consumption [31,32]. Moreover, the rate of alcohol-related emergency department (ED) presentations in young people has increased dramatically in recent decades throughout Queensland, Australia. ...
Article
Maxillofacial injury, also called facial trauma, is a major public health problem, representing a group of injuries in which there is an external force that traumatically injures the face. They comprise hard tissue as well as soft tissue injuries that exhibit different patterns of clinical features based on the severity and mechanism of the trauma. Traumatic maxillofacial injuries not only are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Queensland, Australia, but also have negative effects on quality of life, functional status, and social functioning. Further, they have a range of economic impacts, including on health care costs, employability, productivity, and insurability. Thus, control, minimization, and prevention of traumatic maxillofacial injuries have immediate health effectiveness, and considerable economic benefits.
... Thus, existing dysfunctional socio-cognitive processes are most likely to trigger violence when combined with alcohol intoxication (Clements and Schumacher 2010). It should however be noted that the facilitating influence of alcohol intoxication on violence can be multifold, including, for example, the psychomotor stimulant effect of alcohol, the alteration of the pain system, as well as cognitive interference, reduced inhibition, or misunderstanding of the situation (Hoaken and Stewart 2003). ...
Chapter
Severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD) is among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, leading to a wide range of deleterious consequences for the individual, their relatives, and the society. Individuals suffering from SAUD are often tough to be more aggressive and violent. We reviewed the literature linking alcohol consumption and aggression to provide a synthesis of available evidence on this topic. In general, both acute alcohol consumption and SAUD are associated with an increase in the three subcomponents of aggression, namely, anger, hostility, and aggressive behaviors. We identified several mechanisms involved in the elicitation of aggression in SAUD, including hostility biases and the lack of emotional or cognitive control. Finally, we proposed treatments that specifically target these processes.
... Literature from psychology, criminology, and sociology converges in support of the facilitative effects of alcohol on aggression (see Bushman and Cooper, 1990;Crane et al., 2016;Hoaken and Stewart, 2003). Focused on the work context, some researchers have investigated how employees' long-term drinking (e.g. ...
Article
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Purpose The authors tested whether the effect of alcohol consumption during work hours on workplace aggression was influenced by the combined impact of individuals' job insecurity and love of the job. Design/methodology/approach The authors employed a time-lagged design whereby 325 working adults (166 men; 159 women) provided data at two time points. Respondents were asked to report their typical alcohol consumption volume in a workday, the extent to which they loved their job, and how insecure they felt about their job. Approximately one week later, respondents completed a workplace aggression measure. Findings A substantial positive relationship was observed between the volume of alcohol consumed during work hours and the likelihood of aggressive acts. Beyond this preliminary finding, the authors found evidence for a three-way interaction. It appears that the fear of losing a beloved job creates a condition under which the drinking-aggression relationship is particularly strong. Practical implications Besides formal rules deterring alcohol consumption during work hours, managers may look to implement measures that nurture a sense of job love and job security, which can be beneficial in preventing aggression resulting from drinking in the workplace. Originality/value By examining alcohol consumption during a typical workday, the study captures the contextual and proximal effects of drinking, which are often not observed in workplace-focused studies that operationalize alcohol consumption in general terms. The findings also suggest that if employees who drink during work hours are afraid of losing the job they love, a particularly stressful situation is created in which workplace aggression is more likely to happen.
... Aggression is behavior that harms others physically or psychologically (Allen and Anderson, 2017;Anderson and Bushman, 2002). Many studies have indicated that substance use significantly increases aggression in users (Chester and DeWall, 2018;Hoaken and Stewart, 2003;Tomlinson et al., 2016). Currently, aggression due to substance use disorder has become a serious social transgression. ...
Article
Background The general aggression model has shown that both individual and situational factors can predict aggression. However, past research has tended to discuss these two factors separately, which might lead to inconsistency. This study addresses this gap by examining the importance of each predictor of aggression in a Chinese compulsory drug treatment population and further explores the predictors of aggression in various substance use disorder populations. Method Analyses were conducted using a sample of 894 male participants (mean = 38.30, SD = 8.38) in Chinese compulsory drug rehab. A machine learning model named LightGBM was employed to make predictions. We then used a game-theoretic explanatory technique, SHAP, to estimate the effect of predictors. Results In the full-sample model, psychological security, parental conflict, and impulsivity were the top 3 predictors. Depression, childhood abuse, and alexithymia positively predicted aggression, whereas psychological security, family cohesion, and gratitude negatively predicted aggression. There were significant differences in the predictive effects of depressants and stimulants. Although the importance of predictors varied between drug-use groups, several individual and situational factors were consistently the most important predictors. Limitations All participants in this study were male, and the data were acquired through self-reports from the participants. Domestic and nondomestic aggression are not distinguished. Additionally, our findings cannot support causal conclusions. Conclusion This study tested a series of classical theories of the predictors of aggression in China's compulsory drug treatment context and extended the ideas of the GAM to various substance use disorder groups. The findings have important implications for aggression treatment.
... However, with higher doses, THC can produce anxiogenic responses, in addition to agitation, hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks, memory impairments, and psychosis (17)(18)(19). Direct effects of high doses of THC on aggression and violence in humans are unknown; however, pre-clinical models show mixed results of THC on aggressive behaviors that are also affected by chronicity of cannabis use, early life experiences, and current environment (20,21). ...
Article
Background: Despite an increase in information evaluating the therapeutic and adverse effects of cannabinoids, many potentially important clinical correlates, including violence or aggression, have not been adequately investigated. Objectives: In this systematic review, we examine the published evidence for the relationship between cannabis and aggression or violence in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, articles in English were searched on PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO from database inception to January 2022. Data for aggression and violence in people with psychiatric diagnoses were identified during the searches. Results: Of 391 papers identified within the initial search, 15 studies met inclusion criteria. Cross-sectional associations between cannabis use and aggression or violence in samples with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were found. Moreover, a longitudinal association between cannabis use and violence and aggression was observed in psychotic-spectrum disorders. However, the presence of uncontrolled confounding factors in the majority of included studies precludes any causal conclusions. Conclusion: Although cannabis use is associated with aggression or violence in individuals with PTSD or psychotic-spectrum disorders, causal conclusions cannot be drawn due to methodological limitations observed in the current literature. Well-controlled, longitudinal studies are needed to ascertain whether cannabis plays a causal role on subsequent violence or aggression in mental health disorders.
... A recent review by White et al. (2019) found clear evidence of an association between alcohol use and violence, but no clear evidence from illicit drugs. Most of these studies and reviews did not investigate the effect specifically from cannabis, but a few that did found that acute cannabis intoxication tended not to increase, and might reduce, violent behavior (Boles and Miotto, 2003;Hoaken and Stewart, 2003). ...
Article
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Researchers have associated cannabis use with risk for psychosis, cognitive impairment, and traffic accident. However, this review shows that the association between moderate cannabis use and psychosis is no stronger, and often considerably weaker, than the corresponding association for moderate tobacco use. The same holds for associations with cognitive impairment. For the risk of traffic accident, the review confirms that the risk from alcohol use is substantially stronger than the risk from cannabis use, while the corresponding risk from tobacco use appears to be almost as strong as that from cannabis use. It thus appears that the risk for psychosis, cognitive impairment, and traffic accident associated with cannabis use is generally comparable to that from tobacco use. The article discusses different interpretations of these comparative harms assessments and presents two points of methodological critique to argue that the risks associated with cannabis and other generally criminalized drugs are probably exaggerated. First, any measurement of harms associated with high escapist activities such as drug abuse will be affected by the general dysfunction associated with the underlying reason why a person settles for frequent escapism. From this perspective, cannabis and tobacco use disorder are probably both associated with underlying problems and life issues that are, in and of themselves, associated with psy-chopathology, and researchers should be careful not to conflate the selection effect from belonging to the population segment that opts for high escapist lifestyles with any (putative) harmful effect from drug use itself. Second, criminalization probably shifts the composition of the user population in the direction of more dysfunctional users. From this perspective , the association between substance use disorder and underlying problems and life issues is stronger for criminalized substances, since people who live troubled lives are less likely to be deterred by the prospect of legal problems.
... Researchers have investigated drug violence and nexus. For example, Hoaken and Stewart (2003) report the impact of drugs on aggressive human behaviour. Drugs directly induce violence and indirectly mediate other factors of violence. ...
... Drug use/abuse has several consequences and adverse effects. Hoaken and Stewart (2003) have observed that drugs directly induced violence and indirectly mediate other factors of violence as they can alter the psychomotor system in such a way that excitation and anticipation of reward are enhanced. Psychomotor stimulants such as cannabis can improve motor behaviour including approach, sensation seeking, and attack behaviour which potentiates violence. ...
... These items address symptoms corresponding to those in the four DSM-5 clusters: intrusion (Items 1-5), avoidance (Items 6-7), changes in mood and cognition , and arousal and hyperactivity (Items 15-20) (Foa et al. 2016) 19. I focus on the consumption of alcohol for two reasons: first, it is the most commonly used and abused substance (Köbach et al. 2021) and second, it is the substance that yields the greatest risk for aggressive and violent behavior when consumed at unsafe levels (Humeniuk et al. 2010, 12) because it lowers the threshold for aggressive behavior through both excitation and reduction of inhibition (Hoaken & Stewart 2003;Hecker & Haer 2015). they experience a strong desire or urge to consume alcohol daily. ...
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What are the social legacies of civil war and how do they differ for men and women? Despite a growing body of research on civil war consequences, the social legacies of conflict remain among the least understood impacts of war. Furthermore, empirical evidence on the distinct effects wartime violence has on men and women is scarce. Quantitative research mostly overlooks the gendered experiences, consequences, and potential benefits of conflict. The aim of my dissertation is to contribute to research on gendered civil war legacies by combining observational and experimental micro-level evidence in different post-conflict settings. The overarching question of my dissertation is addressed in three self-contained essays which test theories of the gendered impacts of war. Chapter 2 asks whether civil war (dis)empowers women and explores the causal relationship between civil war and women’s labor force participation by leveraging the arbitrary Côte d'Ivoire--Burkina Faso border as setting for a natural experiment. Using a regression discontinuity design, I find that Ivoirian women are 25 percentage points less likely to work outside the home post-war. I investigate three potential mechanisms and argue that the decline in female labor force participation might be explained by a shift towards more traditional gender norms and a reduction in women's bargaining power. Chapter 3 investigates social (dis)trust in post-war Sri Lanka and analyzes a list experiment to explore the causal relationship between war-related sexual violence and intra- and inter-ethnic group trust. Combining the list experiment with survey data of the Tamil population, I find evidence that war-related sexual violence affects trust decisions of men and women differently. Although both Tamil men and women lose trust in fellow Tamils, female victims are more trusting towards their ethnic out-group. Possible explanations might be that both context of sexual violence and coping strategies differ by gender. Chapter 4 focuses on social (dis)integration in the Democratic Republic of Congo and explores how forced recruitment shapes male ex-combatants' violent behavior. Based on survey data, I present evidence that former forced recruits commit significantly more violence against their intimate partners and their children compared to voluntary recruits. Using structural equation modeling, I scrutinize the combatant socialization mechanism to show that more intense exposure to violence as part of armed groups and ensuing mental health problems mediate this relationship. Taken together, my dissertation highlights the importance of systematic micro-level evidence as well as the significance of applying a gender perspective to conflict research. I argue that it is necessary to account for gendered war experiences and consequences, both in theory-building and methodology, as well as in policy-making. This thesis contributes to different literatures on the consequences of armed conflict, the social implications of violence for individuals, and the risks of recurring violence. In chapter 5, I derive several implications and suggest avenues forward for academic research and policy-making.
... The mortality rate of violent behavior is reached up to 32.1 per 100,000 populations in low-and middle-income countries [8,9]. Problematic substance uses such as alcohol use had often the risk of aggressive behavior [10][11][12], 20-50% of alcohol-dependents had an incidence of violent behavior. Even alcohol abuse or dependency is more risk for aggressive or violent behavior [13][14][15][16][17][18]. ...
Article
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Background The recent WHO data reported that a high treatment gap for behavioral illnesses (70%) in low- and- middle-income countries and the mortality rate of aggressive behavior reaches up to 32.1 per 100,000 populations in the region. However, the magnitude of aggressive behavior is not well stated in resource-limited settings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinant factors of aggressive behavior among adults with problematic substance use in northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was employed from January to March 2019. A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to screen a total of 4028 adults for problematic substance use by using the Cutdown, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener questionnaire (CAGE AID). Finally, 838 participants were positive for problematic substance use and interviewed for aggressive behavior using a modified overt aggression scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to show the adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. A multilevel binary logistic regressions model was employed for the hierarchical structure of two-level data for the individual and woreda/district levels. Results The prevalence of aggressive behavior was found to be 37.9% (301/795, 95% CI: 34.5, 41.3). Stressful life events (AOR = 2.209, 95 CI; 1.423, 3.429), family history of mental illness (AOR = 4.038, 95 CI; 2.046, 7.971), comorbid physical illness (AOR = 2.01, 95 CI; 1.332, 3.032) and depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.342, 95 CI; 1.686, 3.253) were associated with aggressive behavior among individual with problem substance use. Conclusion Aggressive behavior was found to be high among problematic substance uses. An individual with problematic substance use is recommended to be screened by health extension workers for aggressive behavior at the community level.
Article
Descrever percepções, experiências e enfretamento de mulheres rurais frente à violência doméstica. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa, realizado com mulheres residentes na zona rural de um município do interior do Ceará, Brasil. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida sob o parecer n° 4.270.219. O perfil sociodemográfico exibiu mulheres, em sua maioria, jovens adultas, negras, agricultoras e professoras. As percepções sobre violência doméstica e suas manifestações são amplas, entretanto, limitadas quanto às tipologias. As estratégias de enfrentamento são permeadas por medo e insegurança. O acesso à rede de enfrentamento é frágil e o atendimento prestado, em sua maioria, considerado inadequado. As experiências violentas partiram de parceiros íntimos, familiares e desconhecidos. Conhecer experiências e percepções de mulheres rurais sobre violência favorece a tomada de decisões adequadas nas ações de atenção à presente conjuntura.
Article
When adjudicating sexual assault cases, it is imperative that attorneys are educated on the incident characteristics relevant to their case and that expert witnesses are prepared to consult and/or testify regarding relevant science. Most reported sexual assault cases occur when at least one of the relevant parties has consumed alcohol, which has neurochemical, behavioral, psychological, and cognitive effects that are important to consider relative to the facts of the case. Nearly a decade ago, Connell (2015) provided an overview of research relevant to an expert witness's role in these types of cases. In the current review, we extend Connell's (2015) work by examining recent research examining alcohol intoxication and memory. We also expand our review to include current research examining alcohol use in voluntary sexual behavior and issues of sexual consent, as it provides both a legal and conceptual framework for the discussion of sexual assault crimes. The goal of the review is to highlight implications of the scientific research on legal decision-making and potential expert testimony.
Chapter
From a team of leading experts comes a comprehensive, multidisciplinary examination of the most current research including the complex issue of violence and violent behavior. The handbook examines a range of theoretical, policy, and research issues and provides a comprehensive overview of aggressive and violent behavior. The breadth of coverage is impressive, ranging from research on biological factors related to violence and behavior-genetics to research on terrrorism and the impact of violence in different cultures. The authors examine violence from international cross-cultural perspectives, with chapters that examine both quantitative and qualitative research. They also look at violence at multiple levels: individual, family, neighborhood, cultural, and across multiple perspectives and systems, including treatment, justice, education, and public health.
Chapter
From a team of leading experts comes a comprehensive, multidisciplinary examination of the most current research including the complex issue of violence and violent behavior. The handbook examines a range of theoretical, policy, and research issues and provides a comprehensive overview of aggressive and violent behavior. The breadth of coverage is impressive, ranging from research on biological factors related to violence and behavior-genetics to research on terrrorism and the impact of violence in different cultures. The authors examine violence from international cross-cultural perspectives, with chapters that examine both quantitative and qualitative research. They also look at violence at multiple levels: individual, family, neighborhood, cultural, and across multiple perspectives and systems, including treatment, justice, education, and public health.
Chapter
From a team of leading experts comes a comprehensive, multidisciplinary examination of the most current research including the complex issue of violence and violent behavior. The handbook examines a range of theoretical, policy, and research issues and provides a comprehensive overview of aggressive and violent behavior. The breadth of coverage is impressive, ranging from research on biological factors related to violence and behavior-genetics to research on terrrorism and the impact of violence in different cultures. The authors examine violence from international cross-cultural perspectives, with chapters that examine both quantitative and qualitative research. They also look at violence at multiple levels: individual, family, neighborhood, cultural, and across multiple perspectives and systems, including treatment, justice, education, and public health.
Book
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The world has a long-standing system of drug control intended to suppress the use of a range of psychoactive drugs on the basis that such use is very harmful both to the users themselves and to their social surroundings. This perception of harmfulness has a long medical history, but recent research indicates that many forms of illicit drug use are not more harmful than the use of alcohol and tobacco. This article analyzes the historical and normative background for the apparently exaggerated assessments of drug harms on which the regime of drug control is founded. Starting from the observation that the drugs that have been exempted from this criminalization regime are those that were integrated in European cultures during the early modern era whereas the drugs criminalized under this regime lack such a history of European acceptance, the article discusses racial and cultural (especially religious) prejudice as a foundation for the exaggerated perceptions of drug harms. It finds that such prejudice is well-attested in the historical literature and seems to have contributed substantially to the formation of the international drug control regime. In sum, this article argues that drug prohibition was first introduced in the early modern era on racial and religious grounds and that the influence of these prohibition motives can be traced, directly and indirectly, all the way to the present day. This influence may explain why the health risks associated with illicit drug use are still often exaggerated in contemporary drug harms research.
Chapter
Displaced aggression refers to aggressive retaliation toward a target other than an initial provocateur. Meta‐analytic evidence confirms its reliability and robustness (mean effect size = +0.54) and indicates moderation by intensity of provocation, similarity of displacement target to provocateur, and negativity of the displaced aggression setting. Experimental research strongly supports this latter correlational finding, (1) confirming the importance of minor negative target actions to its elicitation, (2) showing no instances of it in the absence of a trigger, and (3) thereby establishing the construct validity of triggered displaced aggression. In this chapter, we review several additional moderators of displaced aggression as well as the effects of individual differences in the propensity to engage in it (viz., trait displaced aggression). We also emphasize rumination's role in eliciting it. Finally, we discuss the application of triggered displaced aggression to intergroup violence and the experimental evidence supporting the construct validity of vicarious retribution.
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This narrative review article summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the relationship between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and aggression across multiple vertebrate species. Experimental evidence indicates that acute administration of phytocannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids, and the pharmacological enhancement of endocannabinoid signaling decreases aggressive behavior in several animal models. However, research on the chronic effects of cannabinoids on animal aggression has yielded inconsistent findings, indicating a need for further investigation. Cannabinoid receptors, particularly cannabinoid receptor type 1, appear to be an important part of the endogenous mechanism involved in the dampening of aggressive behavior. Overall, this review underscores the importance of the ECS in regulating aggressive behavior and provides a foundation for future research in this area.
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U zadnjih nekoliko decenija ovog i prošlog vijeka sve više je izraženiji problem ovisnika u penitensijarnim sistemima širom svijeta. Prisustvo droge u zatvorima otežava sprovođenje institucionalnog tretmana ne samo ovisnika nego i drugih lica koja sa njima izdržavaju zatvorsku kaznu, te se takvo stanje reflektuje i na cjelokupnu psihološku atmosferu u zatvorima. U ovom radu predstavićemo detaljnije ovaj problem i ukazati koliko je droga prisutna u zatvorskim sistemima širom svijeta, kakve poteškoće droga predstavlja u sprovođenju prevaspitnog tretmana kod ovisnika, kakve se strategije sprovode u suzbijanju ovog problema, te ukazati na neka najvažnija obilježja narkokriminaliteta u zatvorskim sistemima.
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Brain-imaging studies show that the development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is determined by a complex interaction of different neurotransmitter systems and multiple psychological factors. In this context, the dopaminergic reinforcement system appears to be of fundamental importance. We focus on the excitatory and depressant effects of acute versus chronic alcohol intake and its impact on dopaminergic neurotransmission. Furthermore, we describe alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission as associated with symptoms of alcohol dependence. We specifically focus on neuroadaptations to chronic alcohol consumption and their effect on central processing of alcohol-associated and reward-related stimuli. Altered reward processing, complex conditioning processes, impaired reinforcement learning, and increased salience attribution to alcohol-associated stimuli enable alcohol cues to drive alcohol seeking and consumption. Finally, we will discuss how the neurobiological and neurochemical mechanisms of alcohol-associated alterations in reward processing and learning can interact with stress, cognition, and emotion processing.
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Experience with psychological trauma is overrepresented among substance use disorder (SUD) patients. SUDs may also be a risk factor for violent behaviors, suicidal ideation and suicide. This study proposes a link between these phenomena. Based on data from the EuropASI clinical interview of 137 SUD inpatients we computed a composite variable of trauma experience from being abused. We report descriptive data and cross tabulated problems controlling violent behavior, suicidal ideation or suicide attempts variables with trauma experience. Hypothesizing an association between experienced trauma and the outcome variables. We also examined the correlation between three outcome variables in inpatients. Our data suggested high incidents of experienced psychological trauma in the sample (66.7%). Chi‐square tests suggested a significant difference in controlling violent behavior, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, dependent on trauma experience. Spearman Roh correlations suggested asscociations between suicdal ideation and suicide attempts, and suicdal ideation and problems controlling violent behavior, but not with suicide attempts. Our data suggests that past trauma is a risk factor for violent and suicidal behaviors in the SUD population. Based on our findings we propose that former trauma should be considered in risk assessments and help guide treatment interventions.
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FUTBOL’DA SEYİRCİ SALDIRGANLIĞI VE STADYUM GÜVENLİĞİ
Chapter
This chapter continues the exploration of biological causes of aggression and violence. It addresses the effects of different regions of the brain, including limbic and cortical structures; neurotransmitters; and, hormones, on aggression and violence. For all of these putative biological causes of aggression, caution is warranted due to the mixed evidence and the tendency to adopt overly simplistic models of biological causation. The implications for prevention and treatment are briefly discussed, but are dealt with in much more detail in Chap. 11, Individual Biological Interventions for Violence and Aggression. Psychopharmacology and Hormonal Treatments and Chap. 12, Individual Biological Interventions for Violence and Aggression. II. Other Biological Treatments.
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The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 49 studies to investigate 2 explanations of how alcohol increases aggression by decreasing sensitivity to cues that inhibit it. Both the level of anxiety and inhibition conflict moderated the difference between the aggressive behavior of sober and intoxicated participants, but neither level adequately accounted for variation in effect sizes. Additional analyses of 3 social psychological moderating variables—provocation, frustration, and self-focused attention—showed that the aggressiveness of intoxicated participants relative to sober ones increased as a function of frustration but decreased as a function of provocation and self-focused attention. The authors also examined the moderating effects of dose.
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This study prospectively examined a social interactional model of husband marital aggression. Young couples were assessed at the time of their 1st marriage with respect to marital conflict styles, alcohol consumption, hostility, gender identity, perceived power inequity, and history of family violence. Couples were reassessed at their 1-year anniversary, and information concerning marital aggression was collected. Most of the constructs were prospectively related to husband aggression, but these relationships were largely mediated through marital conflict styles and husband alcohol consumption, which in turn were influenced by husband's hostility, gender identity, and perceived power inequity.
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Researchers have used positron emission tomography (PET) to study the interrelationships of structural, metabolic, and functional brain changes following alcohol consumption as well as during withdrawal and abstinence. This technique is based on the fact that blood flow and energy metabolism tend to increase in parts of the brain undergoing increased activity and to decrease in brain tissue that is diseased or damaged. PET detects such changes by tracking the distribution within the brain of radioactive chemicals that have been injected into the blood. Because of its sensitivity, PET can detect early functional deficits in the brain before structural changes are apparent. PET has documented gradual recovery of cognitive functions with continued abstinence. In addition, PET data has been used to investigate possible mechanisms for some of alcohol 3s effects and to provide additional evidence for the heritability of alcoholism.
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The effects of a single injection of morphine hydrochloride (0.3, 0.6, or 1.25 mg/kg) or physiological saline (0.9% NaCI) on the agonistic behaviour elicited by isolation in male mice were examined. Individually housed mice were exposed to anosmic “standard opponents” 30 minutes after drug administration, and the encounters were videotaped and evaluated using an ethologically based analysis. Morphine (at 0.6 and 1.25 mg/kg) significantly and dose-dependently decreased time spent in offensive (“threat” and “attack”) and “digging” behaviours but markedly increased “non-social exploration” without a significant increase of “immobility.” The lowest dose was completely ineffective in producing changes in any of the behaviours studied. It is concluded that these results present a specific ethopharmacological profile characterized by suppression of aggressive behaviour, increase in non-social explotation, and no evident impairment of motor activity. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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Many diverse processes terminate in addiction.
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Background SR141716, a recently developed CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist, blocks acute effects of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other CB1 cannabinoid agonists in vitro and in animals. These findings suggest that CB1 receptors mediate many of the effects of marijuana, but this has not been evaluated in humans.Methods Sixty-three healthy men with a history of marijuana use were randomly assigned to receive oral SR141716 or a placebo in an escalating dose (1, 3, 10, 30, and 90 mg) design. Each subject smoked an active (2.64% THC) or placebo marijuana cigarette 2 hours later. Psychological effects associated with marijuana intoxication and heart rate were measured before and after antagonist and marijuana administration.Results Single oral doses of SR141716 produced a significant dose-dependent blockade of marijuana-induced subjective intoxication and tachycardia. The 90-mg dose produced 38% to 43% reductions in visual analog scale ratings of "How high do you feel now?" "How stoned on marijuana are you now?" and "How strong is the drug effect you feel now?" and produced a 59% reduction in heart rate. SR141716 alone produced no significant physiological or psychological effects and did not affect peak THC plasma concentration or the area under the time × concentration curve. SR141716 was well tolerated by all subjects.Conclusions SR141716 blocked acute psychological and physiological effects of smoked marijuana without altering THC pharmacokinetics. These findings confirm, for the first time in humans, the central role of CB1 receptors in mediating the effects of marijuana.
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Benzodiazepines remain an important class of psychotropic medication for the treatment and management of a wide range of clinical states, including anxiety, insomnia, agitation, and seizures. Despite their efficacy, however, a certain stigma has been attached to their use, most likely due to an increased awareness of their side effects and the risk of dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and the potential for abuse. Concern regarding benzodiazepine misuse or overuse has been expressed throughout medical communities in England, Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States. Despite the resultant decline in their overall prescription rate over the past 2 decades, the benzodiazepines nonetheless remain among the most frequently prescribed agents for mood and anxiety disorders. In this article, basic pharmacology and practical issues related to the clinical application of benzodiazepines are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Investigated whether a similar neuropsychological deficit pattern underlies prefrontal lobe syndrome and alcohol intoxication and whether alcohol expectancy detrimentally affects neuropsychological performance. 72 male university students were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests, including the Porteus Maze Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, after receiving 1 of 3 different doses of alcohol. A high dose of alcohol detrimentally affected many functions associated with the prefrontal and temporal lobes, including planning, verbal fluency, memory, and complex motor control. Expectancy did not appear to play a significant role in determining this effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Using the example of a 29-yr-old man with schizophrenia (SCZ) who committed murder, the author discusses the relationship between SCZ and violence. Growing evidence concerning characteristics, etiology, and treatment of SCZ is presented, and implications are noted for mental health policy concerning treatment of patients with SCZ, particularly those exhibiting aggressive behavior. Hodgins concludes by stressing the need to discover how to prevent disorders such as SCZ. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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The acute behavioral and cardiac effects of alcohol (0, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) and caffeine (0, 250 and 500 mg/70 kg), administered alone and in combination, were assessed in eight adult humans. Subjects received all possible combinations twice. Alcohol administered alone disrupted responding in the Digit-Symbol Substitution Test and the Repeated Acquisition and Performance Procedure, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and increased subject ratings of drunkenness. Caffeine administered alone offset performance decrements that emerged across the test session on the Digit-Symbol Substitution Test performance and accuracy of responding in the Repeated Acquisition and Performance Procedure, but never actually enhanced performance and learning. Caffeine administered alone increased blood pressure and increased subjective ratings of drug strength. The most notable effect of the drug combinations was that caffeine partially attenuated the disruptive behavioral effects of alcohol. Combining alcohol and caffeine generally offset the pressor effects observed with the drugs administered alone. By contrast, alcohol-caffeine combinations did not significantly alter breath alcohol levels, heart rate or subject-rated drug effects, relative to the effects of the drugs alone. Across all measures except heart rate, these effects are qualitatively similar to those observed previously with cocaine and -amphetamine in combination with alcohol, documenting a high degree of consistency in the behavioral pharmacology of alcohol-stimulant combinations in humans (C) Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
Article
Phencyclidine (PCP) has obtained a notorious reputation for provoking violent behavior. Because of this reputation and a number of methodological weaknesses in PCP-violence studies, the recent research literature on the relationship between PCP use and violent crime was reviewed. Studies were organized according to types of subjects studied (PCP users in treatment; PCP users in the criminal justice system; and PCP users at large in the community). Within each category, studies were evaluated in terms of the logical rigor of their research design and measurement. Of the three categories, investigations involving PCP users in the criminal justice system tended to have fewest problems. However, methodological weaknesses in some studies and contradictory findings in others did not allow one to adequately answer the question of whether PCP use increased violent crime. Unanswered questions and suggested directions for future research in the PCP-violence field are presented.
Article
Forty male undergraduates were provoked following their ingestion of high or low doses of either alcohol or delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The expression of physical aggression was related to the quantity of alcohol ingested. The high dose of alcohol instigated more intense aggression than the low dose. The high dose of THC, on the other hand, did not increase aggressive behavior. In fact, it tended to produce a weak suppression effect.
Article
Although marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, it is not established whether withdrawal from chronic use results in a clinically significant abstinence syndrome. The present study was conducted to characterize symptoms associated with marijuana withdrawal following chronic use during a supervised 28-day abstinence period. Three groups of participants were studied: (a) current chronic marijuana users, (b) former chronic marijuana users who had not used marijuana for at least 6 months prior to the study, and (c) marijuana nonusers. Current users experienced significant increases in anxiety, irritability, physical tension, and physical symptoms and decreases in mood and appetite during marijuana withdrawal. These symptoms were most pronounced during the initial 10 days of abstinence, but some were present for the entire 28-day withdrawal period. These findings support the notion of a marijuana withdrawal syndrome in humans.
Article
Background: Owing to the fact that Finnish police have been able to solve about 95% of all homicides during recent decades and because most homicide offenders are subjected to an intensive psychiatric evaluation, it was possible to examine data on 693 of 994 homicide offenders during an 8-year period.Methods: The prevalences of mental disorders of the homicide offenders were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the statistical increase in risk associated with specific mental disorders.Results: The results indicate that schizophrenia increases the OR of homicidal violence by about 8-fold in men and 6.5-fold in women. Antisocial personality disorder increases the OR over 10-fold in men and over 50-fold in women. Affective disorders, anxiety disorders, dysthymia, and mental retardation did not elevate the OR to any significant extent (OR <5.0).Conclusion: Homicidal behavior in a country with a relatively low crime rate appears to have a statistical association with some specific mental disorders classified according to DSM-III-R classifications.
Article
Background: We sought to expand on preliminary findings suggesting that anabolic-androgenic steroids produce psychiatric effects in some athletes who use them.Methods: We compared 88 athletes who were using steroids with 68 nonusers, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R to diagnose psychiatric syndromes occurring in association with steroid use (if applicable) and in the absence of steroid use. Demographic, medical, and laboratory measures were also performed.Results: Steroid users displayed more frequent gynecomastia, decreased mean testicular length, and higher cholesterol—high-density lipoprotein ratios than nonusers. Most strikingly, 23% of steroid users reported major mood syndromes—mania, hypomania, or major depression—in association with steroid use. Steroid users displayed mood disorders during steroid exposure significantly more frequently than in the absence of steroid exposure (P<.001) and significantly more frequently than nonusers (P<.01). Users rarely abused other drugs simultaneously with steroids.Conclusion: Major mood disturbances associated with anabolic-androgenic steroids may represent an important public health problem for athletes using steroids and sometimes for the victims of their irritability and aggression.
Article
A wide variety of drugs are presumed to be related to aggressive behavior. In an earlier review (Taylor & Leonard, 1983), the evidence concerning the effect of alcohol on human aggressive behavior was scrutinized. The authors concluded, "Alcohol does appear to be a potent causal antecedent of aggressive behavior" (p. 97). This conclusion was confirmed in a more recent review (Taylor & Cher-mack, 1993). The purpose of this chapter is to critically examine the effects of several other commonly used psychoactive drugs on human aggression: mari-juana, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and morphine. This chapter describes the classification of major psychoactive drugs, discusses the traditional empirical and theoretical perspectives concerning the relationship between psychoactive drugs and aggression, reviews the results of a series of experiments designed to exam-ine the instigating effects of psychoactive drugs, and considers the theoretical and policy implications of the empirical evidence. One of the most traditional methods of classifying psychoactive drugs is in terms of their characteristic behavioral or clinical effects. Less typical drug classi-fication schemes involve molecular structure and biochemical actions. Some of the major categories of drugs that alter behavior or mood are stimulants, depres-sants, opiates, hallucinogens/psychedelics, and marijuana.
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Alcohol use is commonly associated with sexual aggression, with some surveys suggesting that rapists consume alcohol in over half of reported incidents; however, the precise role of alcohol is unclear. We reviewed the experimental human subject literature on the effects of alcohol on aggression and sexual arousal to rape as analogs of sexual aggression in order to elucidate alcohol's causal effects. Alcohol increases aggression in the laboratory, whereas the effects of alcohol on sexual arousal to rape are equivocal. However, few studies have been published on the latter topic, and only three studies have tested alcohol's effects on rapists. Interpretation of these findings is qualified by methodological limitations, including concerns about the validity of the typical balanced placebo design. A disinhibition model linking alcohol and sexual aggression is proposed, and suggestions for future research are made.
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Placebo and triazolam (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/70 kg of body weight) were administered to male subjects under double-blind conditions prior to experimental sessions which provided three operant response options. These options were: 1) responding maintained by the presentation of points exchangeable for money, 2) responding which ostensibly resulted in the subtraction of points from a fictitious person was termed aggressive since this responding resulted in the delivery of an aversive stimulus to another person, and 3) responding which ostensibly protected the subject's point counter from subtractions initiated by the other person and was termed escape. Aggressive and escape responding were initiated by subtracting points from the subject. Point subtractions were attributed to the other person. Aggressive and escape responding were maintained by initiation of provocation-free intervals (PFI), during which no further point subtractions were presented. Triazolam produced dose-dependent decreases in point-maintained and escape responding. The effects of triazolam on aggressive responding varied across subjects.
Article
This book provides an updated theory of the nature of anxiety and the brain systems controlling anxiety, combined with a theory of hippocampal function, which was first proposed thirty years ago. While remaining controversial, the core of this theory, of a 'Behavioural Inhibition System', has stood the test of time, with its main predictions repeatedly confirmed. Novel anti-anxiety drugs share none of the side effects or primary pharmacological actions of the classical anti-anxiety drugs on the actions of which the theory was based; but they have both the behavioural and hippocampal actions predicted by the theory. This text is the second edition of the book and it departs significantly from the first. It provides, for the first time, a single construct - goal conflict - that underlies all the known inputs to the system; and it includes current data on the amygdala. Its reviews include the ethology of defence, learning theory, the psychopharmacology of anti-anxiety drugs, anxiety disorders, and the clinical and laboratory analysis of amnesia. The cognitive and behavioural functions in anxiety of the septo-hippocampal system and the amygdala are also analysed, as are their separate roles in memory and fear. Their functions are related to a hierarchy of additional structures - from the prefrontal cortex to the periaqueductal gray - that control the various forms of defensive behaviour and to detailed analysis of the monoamine systems that modulate this control. The resultant neurology is linked to the typology, symptoms, pre-disposing personality and therapy of anxiety and phobic disorders, and to the symptoms of amnesia. © Jeffrey A. Gray and Neil McNaughton 2000 , 2003. All rights reserved.
Article
The effects of diazepam on the aggressive behavior of male and female subjects were investigated using the Taylor competitive reaction time paradigm. The results indicated that subjects given diazepam responded more aggressively than subjects given a placebo. The aggression-enhancing effect of diazepam occurred for both male and female competitors. Male subjects were observed to be more aggressive than females. The possibility that depressants as a class of drug increase an individual's aggressive behavior is discussed.
Article
Analysis of the pattern of defensive behaviours in semi-natural situations suggests a long-duration process in which high level freezing/movement arrest gradually gives way to active risk assessment activities, terminating with a gradual return to nondefensive behaviours. Risk assessment is conceptualized as the key feature in this process, with the information obtained by these oriented scanning and exploratory activities providing feedback to reduce the subject’s initial high level of defensiveness. Risk assessment measures derived from this analysis are selectively responsive to classic anxiolytics. Examination of a range of commonly used measures of anxiolytic action suggest that many of these contain clear elements of the risk assessment process. Furthermore, variation in the results obtained in these tests might be profitably analyzed in terms of some of the features of risk assessment and other aspects of the defense pattern seen to partial or potential threat stimuli.
Article
Forty male undergraduates were provoked following their ingestion of high or low doses of either alcohol or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The expression of physical aggression was related to the quantity of alcohol ingested. The high dose of alcohol instigated more intense aggression than the low dose. The high dose of THC, on the other hand, did not increase aggressive behavior. In fact, it tended to produce a weak suppression effect.
Article
We report the results of a study of substance use, measured by self-reports and hair test results, and delinquency among arrested youths entering a service intervention program. The results highlight important relationships between their alcohol and other drug use and involvement in delinquency in the year prior to their interviews. The research and service implications of these findings are discussed.
Article
That excessive alcohol use may be related to family violence is by no means a new idea. William Hogarth’ s drawing of life in “Gin Alley” presents a striking visual image of the ills of alcohol: an intoxicated woman who neglectfully allows her small infant to fall from her arms. Temperance tracts in the 1830s and 1840s promulgated the view that alcohol, even in somewhat moderate doses, resulted in neglect of the basic needs of the family. Expenditures of family resources on alcohol rather than food and clothing and unusually cruel violence directed at children and spouse were repeatedly discussed. In 1832, for example, the Fifth Report of the American Temperance Society devoted several pages to instances where a father, while intoxicated, had murdered his wife or children: In the State of New York alone, in the course of a few weeks, not less than four men, under the influence of ardent spirits, murdered their wives, and with their own hands made their children orphans.... One of these men put to death not only his wife, but six of his children. (American Temperance Society Documents, 1972)
Article
Results from the present experiment with 32 male Rockland Swiss mice indicate that intraperitoneal doses of both phencyclidine (1–8 mg/kg) and chlordiazepoxide (2–26 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent reductions on target biting following shock and had no effect on biting during a tone that preceded the shock. Findings, together with previously reported results, suggest that the biphasic effects of the 2 drugs on aggression are not just the result of dose-dependent actions but also depend on particular paradigm variables. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Article
Assigned 30 male undergraduates (over 21 in age) to alcohol, placebo, and control groups. Ss then competed in a task involving reaction time with a confederate who attempted to give them increasingly intense shocks. The Ss who had ingested .9 ml 100 proof bourbon/kg set significantly higher shock intensities than the Ss in the placebo or no drug control groups. (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Article
Investigated the effects of barbiturates on aggressive behavior among 60 male undergraduates. Ss were given the opportunity to administer electric shocks to an opponent during a competitive reaction time (RT) task. In Exp 1, 30 Ss received increasing provocation from an opponent following their ingestion of 1 of 3 doses of secobarbital. In Exp 2, 30 Ss ingested a placebo or 1 of 2 doses of pentobarbital. Results of both experiments show that aggressive behavior did not increase as a function of drug dosage. It is suggested that barbiturates in moderate, clinically appropriate doses do not facilitate aggressive responding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Article
Substance use has long been associated with violent behaviour, particularly the use of alcohol and stimulants. This paper presents findings from a study of the effectiveness of treatment services for amphetamine users, describing profiles for those reporting violent and aggressive behaviour and documenting their experiences. The sample (n = 86) comprised two groups: amphetamine users seeking drug treatment and a matched case control group of amphetamine users who were not receiving treatment. Forty-seven per cent of the sample reported having committed a violent crime, and half of them associated the violence with their amphetamine use. In addition, 62% repeated ongoing problems with aggression which were related to their amphetamine use. A wide range of factors are discussed in this paper, using established models of association between drug use and violence, and also exploring issues such as the interaction of alcohol and other drugs, the effects of trying to abstain from amphetamine, psychological co-morbidity, the impact of amphetamine's reputation for inducing aggression, and conversely, amphetamine as a drug of choice over alcohol to try to minimize aggressive behaviour. The paper concludes with a discussion of the problems posed by aggressive and violent behaviour for amphetamine users seeking treatment.
Article
Drug-induced memory impairment is most apparent for long-term memory, but it is unclear whether this effect is restricted to episodic memory with no effect on semantic memory. Here we compare how the formation of new semantic and episodic memories are affected by ethanol and temazepam. Eighteen subjects (12 male, 6 female; age 19–43 years; weight 52–104 kg) took part in five sessions in which they received by mouth, in random order: (E2) ethanol, 0.8 g/kg, maximum 60 g males, 50 g females; (E1) ethanol, 75 per cent of the dose for E1; (T2) temazepam 20 mg; (T1) temazepam 15 mg; (P) placebo. They carried out a series of tests including learning of invented ‘facts, a measure of the acquisition of new semantic memory; the Buschke test, a measure of short- and long-term learning of words; Digit–Symbol substitution, a measure of psychomotor speed; and Visual Analogue Scales. Both acquisition of new semantic memory and the long-term measure from the Buschke were impaired by both drugs. The effects of ethanol were more marked than those of temazepam for the memory tests at the doses used here, particularly for the Buschke. Psychomotor impairment as assessed by Digit–Symbol substitution speed was equally affected by both drugs. Subjects rated themselves more drunk on ethanol than on temazepam, but drowsiness was similar for the two drugs. These results show that both drugs impair the acquisition of new semantic memory as well as new episodic memory, and suggest that it is new long-term memory formation that is impaired by these drugs and not the formation of a specific type of memory, such as episodic memory. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Article
Forty male undergraduates were provoked following their ingestion of high or low doses of either alcohol or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The expression of physical aggression was related to the quantity of alcohol ingested. The high dose of alcohol instigated more intense aggression than the low dose. The high dose of THC, on the other hand, did not increase aggressive behavior. In fact, it tended to produce a weak suppression effect.
Article
A model of bar victimization is proposed that explores the relationships among a woman's exposure to the bar environment (i.e., frequency of going to bars), her intoxication in that setting (i.e., usual number of drinks), and such individual difference factors as her previous history of victimization (childhood sexual abuse, lifetime violence, and previous partner abuse) and personality characteristics (depression, social anxiety, sensation seeking, and hostility). Earlier findings from work in this area suggest that exposure to the bar environment increases a woman's risk for more severe aggression. The data being used to test the proposed model are from a survey of 198 women bar drinkers in western New York State. These women described bar-related victimization that ranged from verbal aggression (e.g., threats) through severe physical and sexual violence (e.g., assault and rape). Younger age, history of victimization, greater negative affect, and more frequent drinking in bars were predictive of more severe bar-related victimization during the past year. These findings are discussed in terms of women's risk for victimization in bars and needed areas of future research. Aggr. Behav. 25:349–364, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Article
To examine the relationship between cannabis use in adolescence and the onset of other illicit drug use. Data were gathered over the course of a 21-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand children. Measures analysed included: (a) frequency of cannabis use and other illicit drugs from 15-21; (b) family, social, educational and behavioural backgrounds of cohort members prior to 15; and (c) adolescent life-style variables. (i) By 21, nearly 70% of cohort members and used cannabis and 26% had used other illicit drugs. (ii) In all but three cases, the use of cannabis had preceded the use of illicit drugs. (iii) Those using cannabis on more than 50 occasions a year had hazards of other illicit drug use that were 140 times higher than non-users. (iv) After adjustment for covariate factors, including childhood factors, family factors and adolescent life-style factors, cannabis use remained strongly related to the onset of other forms of illicit drug use. Those using cannabis on more than 50 occasions per year had hazards of other illicit drug use that were 59.2 times higher than non-users. Findings support the view that cannabis may act as a gateway drug that encourages other forms of illicit drug use. None the less, the possibility remains that the association is non-causal and reflects factors that were not adequately controlled in the analysis.
Article
The present study investigated cardiac response to acute alcohol challenge along the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) curve in two groups of young adult nonalcoholic men with (MFH) and without (FH-) multigenerational family histories of alcoholism, matched for drinking history. BACs and resting heart rate measurements were recorded every 10 min for 3 hr after ingestion of a 1.0 ml/kg dose of 95% USP alcohol at two different rates: one of 20 min (slow drinking) and the other of 5 min (fast drinking). Several analyses of variance were performed for each of the dependent measures [BAC and heart rate change from baseline (HRCH)]. A significant risk × BAC phase interaction emerged from the HRCH analysis, indicating that the MFH group was characterized by a significantly greater increase in resting heart rate along the ascending limb of the BAC curve. A significant risk × BAC phase × rate interaction indicated that, when alcohol was consumed at a faster rate, men with multigenerational family histories of alcoholism demonstrated a greater HRCH, which persisted throughout the BAC curve.
Article
The determination of which individuals are at risk of responding aggressively when intoxicated and under what conditions this is likely to occur is basic to understanding the alcohol/aggression relationship. Three theorized mechanisms on which individuals display differential vulnerability and which are related to risk are discussed. These are the cue for reinforcement system, the threat system, and the executive control system. Under the latter heading new findings from a number of studies are presented which demonstrate that: under low provocation intoxicated executive cognitive functioning (ECF) individuals performed with significantly more aggression than sober or intoxicated high ECF individuals; that individuals with low ECF, though more aggressive, choose these responses more slowly than those with high ECF; that low ECF, unlike high ECF, individuals do not react to anticipated shock; and, it is specifically low sober state ECF individuals who show increased alcohol induced ECF disruption who are most at risk for intoxicated aggression. Aggr. Behav. 29:302–315, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Article
The effects of i.p. administration of a hashish solution on the fighting behaviour of isolated male wild house-mice were examined in a qualitative and quantitative behavioural study. Daily doses of 20 mg/kg led to increased aggressiveness as shown in the different parameters. This was demonstrated in a decrease, significant at the 2% level, of the latent time in comparison with tests on an untreated control group, and a placebo group injected with Tween 80. There were no significant differences in the average fighting times, but an intensification and de-ritualisation of fighting behaviour can be verified by an increase in the fighting score, significant at the 0.5% level, and in the motor activity, significant at the 1% level. Furthermore, under the influence of hashish in the test situation, a decrease was found in the defecation rate, which was significant at the 0.1% level.
Article
An experiment was conducted to determine if the relatively strong negative affect generated by anticipation of pain from exposure to aversive stimulation would give rise to an instigation to aggression and accompanying feelings of annoyance-irritation-anger. The 45 undergraduate women in the study were required to immerse their nondominant hand in water as they administered reward and punishment to a fellow student, supposedly as an evaluation of that person''s solutions to assigned problems. In two-thirds of the cases the water temperature was unpleasantly cold, while it was much more tolerable in temperature for the remaining subjects. Half of the participants in the cold water condition and all of those in the more tolerable water temperature group has been led to expect the possibility of pain as they kept their hand in the water, whereas the remaining women (exposed to the cold water) had been alerted only to the physical sensations they would have. In accord with the findings obtained in an earlier experiment by Leventhal, Brown, Sacham, and Enquist (1979), the subjects in the cold water group expecting that they might feel pain reported experiencing the greatest discomfort. Further, consistent with Berkowitz''s analysis of anger and angry aggression, these participants also reported the strongest feelings of annoyance-irritation-anger and were most punitive to the available target even though they could not attribute their discomfort to this person.
Article
The objective of the present experiments was to characterize psychomotor stimulant effects ofd-amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and phencyclidine (PCP) on conditioned performance and on aggressive behavior in mice. In a novel protocol with alternating periods of schedule-controlled responding and aggressive behavior toward an intruder it was possible to assess a range of species-specific agonistic acts, postures, and motor activities as well as response rates and patterns engendered by a multiple Fixed Interval (FI) and Fixed Ratio (FR) schedule within the same animal. Initially, it was confirmed thatd-amphetamine and, less reliably, MDMA and PCP, increased FI, but not FR responding in mice. In the next experiment, mice confronted an intruder at the midpoint of the 1-h daily session; following the display of aggressive behavior, the rate of FI responding showed an amphetamine-like increase, whereas only a transient change occurred after non-aggressive encounters. Thirdly, using this new protocol, PCP,d-amphetamine and MDMA altered FI and FR responding in a way that was closely similar to the first experiment. Low PCP andd-amphetamine doses increased aggressive behavior erratically in certain individuals, but not reliably for the group. MDMA dose-dependently decreased aggressive behavior, and all drugs disrupted aggressive behavior at higher doses. The characteristic increases in walking and decreases in rearing after higher doses of PCP andd-amphetamine were greatly attenuated when the intruder was present. The rate-increasing effects ofd-amphetamine, MDMA and PCP occurred in the early portion of the fixed interval when the control rate is typically low; by contrast, low attack rates during the later portion of the confrontation with the intruder remained unaffected. The dose-dependent quantitatively and qualitatively differentiated profile of effects on schedule-controlled responding, motor activity and aggressive behavior suggest that the common properties ofd-amphetamine, MDMA and PCP pertain mostly to the disruption of organized behavior patterns and activation of repetitive motor routines at high doses, but point to different mechanisms for modulating aggressive behavior and conditioned performance at lower doses.
Article
In order to assess the respective contribution of opioid receptors to the behavioral and physiological characteristics of lactating animals, we challenged mice with morphine at different phases of the lactation period. Sensitivity to morphine's effects on aggressive behavior, pup care, pain response and body temperature were measured. Lactating mice were assigned to 1 of the 3 weeks of lactation and to 1 of 5 doses of morphine sulfate (0, 1, 3, 6, 10 mg/kg IP). After morphine administration, rectal temperature and tail flick were assessed. Behavior towards three pups was observed for 5 min, followed by an aggression test with a female intruder. Morphine significantly increased the latency to retrieve pups and decreased aggressive behavior at doses that do not decrease motoric activity. Compared to virgin mice, lactating females are less sensitive to the analgesic actions of morphine but similarly sensitive to its hypothermic properties. The fact that virgin and lactating females can be distinguished on the basis of their sensitivity to morphine-induced analgesia suggests that lactating animals undergo functionally relevant changes in opioid regulation of pain sensitivity. Furthermore, morphine's specific and potent inhibition of pup retrieval supports the hypothesis that decreased opioid peptide activity is important for the expression of certain postpartum behaviors.
Article
Aggressive, escape and point-maintained operant responding of male marijuana smokers were measured during six 25-min sessions conducted over an 8-h experimental day. Aggressive responding ostensibly subtracted points exchangeable for money from another subject. Escape responding protected the subject's counter from point subtractions initiated by the other subject for some period of time. Aggressive and escape responding were engendered by subtracting points from the subjects and maintained by initiation of intervals free of point subtractions. Point subtractions presented to the subjects were attributed to other persons. Subjects earned points exchangeable for money on a third response option. Subjects participated in one session prior to smoking and five sessions after smoking. Subjects smoked placebo or three different potencies of active marijuana cigarettes. Marijuana smoking effects on escape responding were not significant and depended upon the frequency of provocation. Point-maintained responding was decreased after marijuana smoking. Aggressive responding was increased for the first hour after smoking and returned to placebo levels later in the day. These effects of marijuana smoking on aggressive responding are discussed in terms of subject characteristics, particularly drug use history.
Article
Six male strength athletes, three illicit anabolic steroid users and three non-steroid users were monitored over several months as they underwent normal training and competition routines. Subjects completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, Buss-Durke Hostility Inventory and the Rosenweig Picture Frustration Test on four occasions: two on-drug periods and two off-drug periods for the steroid users and equivalent test periods for the non-users. Steroid presence was monitored objectively by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Whilst those drugs declared by the athletes were confirmed in the “on-drug” samples and most of the “off-drug” samples, clear steroid traces were apparent in some supposed off-drug sessions. This complicated data interpretation and may partially explain why steroid users were significantly more hostile and aggressive at all times compared to the non-users. Despite this, self-rated aggression did increase significantly in steroid users during their acknowledged on-drug periods. Multiple drug use or “stacking” in particular caused severe hostility/aggression; one steroid user also admitted to attempted murder during a previous steroid-taking phase.