Homicides committed by abusers of alcohol and illicit drugs

This paper concerns 52 abusers of alcohol and 19 abusers of illicit drugs who had committed a homicide in northern Sweden between 1970 and 1981 or in Stockholm between 1971 and 1980. Twenty-three individuals were found guilty of murder, 21 of manslaughter and 27 of assault and causing another's death. The study group was characterized by a high prevalence of personality disorders, alcohol-induced brain damages and social derangement. Alcohol intoxication during the acts was seen in all cases of alcohol abusing offenders. Most of the victims were abusers themselves, were (ex-)partners or acquaintances of the offenders and had been drinking together with their killer. Homicides where the victim seemed to have been the prime aggressor constituted almost half of all instances. The homicides committed by abusers of illicit drugs were characterized by less intimacy and the offenders were often considerably younger than their victims.