The role of aggression in substance use: The prison case

Substance use and aggressive behaviour pattern is considered as a serious criminal behaviour threat. This analytical cross-sectional study was designed to determine the level of aggression of convicts with substance use and to determine the variables predicting the substance use characteristics of convicts.

The study was carried out with 255 male convicts in 2 different closed penal execution institutions in Izmir province. In order to measure demographic variables, data were collected using the Information Form, Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire and Addiction Profile Index.

When convicts were examined according to demographic variables, it was found that there was a significant difference between the groups in terms of variables such as age, marital status, domestic violence, history of psychological treatment and self-harm behaviour. The results showed that 85.5% of convicts had used cannabis more than three times in their lifetime. Also there was a significant difference between the total score obtained from the aggression scale and the number of substance types used.

Multidisciplinary approach in the field of addiction can go a long way in solving the problem and will play an important role in the protection of society, individuals and victims.