NCJ Number
57886
Journal
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Volume: 282 Dated: (DECEMBER 30, 1976) Pages: 85-93
Date Published
1976
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF DRUG USE PATTERNS WAS CONDUCTED AMONG DELINQUENTS INCARCERATED IN A CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY FACILITY TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF CANNABIS AND ALCOHOL ON AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENT DELINQUENTS.
Abstract
POLICE RECORDS AND LABORATORY REPORTS WERE EXAMINED AND INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 248 MALE ADOLESCENTS. IT IS FOUND THAT CANNABIS DOES NOT HAVE THE SOCIALLY DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL, EVEN THOUGH BOTH DRUGS ARE USED AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME FREQUENCY. RESULTS SHOW THAT CANNABIS IS UNDERREPRESENTED IN A VARIETY OF BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS: FIGHTS, DIFFICULTIES WITH POLICE, TROUBLE WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS, AND AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS. RESPONSES TO A RANGE OF QUESTIONS DESIGNED TO MEASURE DRUG INFLUENCES ON AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR SHOW THAT CANNABIS GENERALLY REDUCES ASSAULTIVENESS, WHEREAS ALCOHOL EITHER HAS LITTLE EFFECT OR INCREASES ASSAULTIVE TENDENCIES. SIMILARLY, CANNABIS IS USED MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ALCOHOL FOR TRANQUILIZING PURPOSES, SO THAT USERS AVOID DIFFICULTIES. CONVERSELY, ALCOHOL IS MORE OFTEN USED BY THESE OFFENDERS TO BOLSTER COURAGE TO DO SOMETHING THEY WOULD NOT DO IN A NONDRUG STATE. SEVERAL OTHER FIELD STUDIES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CANNABIS AND VARIOUS TYPES OF HUMAN AGGRESSION INDICATE THAT CANNABIS IS SELDOM ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN AGGRESSION. IN ADDITION, LABORATORY STUDIES CONCLUDE THAT MODERATE DOSES OF CANNABIS GENERALLY INDUCE A REDUCTION IN INCLINATION TOWARD PHYSICAL EFFORT, A REDUCTION IN TENDENCIES TOWARD INTENSE SOCIAL INTERACTION, AN INCREASE IN POSITIVE MOOD STATES, A REDUCTION IN HOSTILITY, AND A REDUCTION IN TENDENCIES TOWARD INFLICTING PAIN ON OTHERS. ALCOHOL, ON THE OTHER HAND, CAN AUGMENT HUMAN AGGRESSION. A TABLE, CHARTS, AND REFERENCE NOTES ACCOMPANY THE TEXT. (WJR)