SUBSTANCE-INDUCED AGGRESSION (FROM VIOLENCE PERSPECTIVES ON MURDER AND AGGRESSION, 1978, BY IRWIN L KUTASH ET AL - SEE NCJ-55020)

• NCJ Number: 55030
• Author(s): R J POWERS; I L KUTASH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: Jossey-Bass Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE RELATIONSHIP OF AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE (ALCOHOL, AMPHETAMINES, HEROIN, LSD) IS ASSESSED.

Abstract

THE MOST SALIENT FACTORS DETERMINING THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF AGGRESSION LIKELY TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE DRUG TYPE, PERSONALITY OF THE USER, DOSAGE, EXPECTATIONS (SET), AND ENVIRONMENT (SETTING). AGGRESSION OR VIOLENCE IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR DURING ALCOHOL USE UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: IF THE USER HAS AN AGGRESSIVE, SOCIOPATHIC PERSONALITY; IF DOSAGES ARE AT MEDIUM LEVELS (BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT OF 0.10 TO 0.35 PERCENT); WHEN STEREOTYPES OF ALCOHOL-INDUCED BEHAVIOR ARE USED AS CUES OR EXCUSES FOR AGGRESSION; AND WHEN DRINKING OCCURS DURING CLOSE INTERPERSONAL INTERACTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN SOCIAL AND/OR COMPETITIVE SITUATIONS. AGGRESSION OR VIOLENCE IS MOST LIKELY TO ACCOMPANY AMPHETAMINE USE UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: IF THE USER'S PERSONALITY IS CHARACTERIZED BY ABNORMAL AGGRESSIVENESS, POOR IMPULSE CONTROL, OR LATENT OR OVERT PARANOIA AND SCHIZOPHRENIA; IF HIGH DOSAGES ARE ADMINISTERED REPEATEDLY AND INTRAVENOUSLY; IF THE USER IS UNAWARE OF THE NEGATIVE FEELINGS OF PARANOIA THAT MAY OCCUR; AND IF NO ONE IS PRESENT TO COUNTERACT THESE FEELINGS. AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE ARE NOT LIKELY TO RESULT FROM THE PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HEROIN BUT MAY RESULT FROM EFFORTS TO PROCURE THE DRUG, PANIC REACTIONS TO IMPENDING WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS, OR ASSAULTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SELLING AND POSSESSION OF HEROIN. AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE OCCUR RARELY DURING LSD USE BUT ARE MOST LIKELY WHEN THE USER HAS A PARANOID-SCHIZOPHRENIC PERSONALITY STRUCTURE, WHEN THE DOSE IS HIGH (75 MILLIGRAMS OR MORE), WHEN THE USER IS APPREHENSIVE OR IN A BAD MOOD, AND WHEN OTHER PERSONS ALARM THE USER. THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SINGLE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE COMPLICATED AND IN SOME INSTANCES AMPLIFIED WITH MULTIPLE DRUG USE. EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE-INDUCED AGGRESSION REQUIRES DETOXIFICATION PRIOR TO ANY OTHER REHABILITATIVE ATTEMPTS, PROPER DIAGNOSIS OF THE USER'S PERSONALITY, INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANS, PARTICIPATION BY SIGNIFICANT OTHERS IN TREATMENT, THE FOSTERING OF NECESSARY CHANGES IN THE USER'S PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, ATTENTION TO PROBLEMS STEMMING FROM THE ABUSER'S VIOLENCE, AND A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH. (LKM)