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Patterns of substance abuse and intoxication among murderers
1University of California School of Medicine, Davis.
The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Substance abuse is linked to homicide, but not all murderers abuse drugs. This study identified seven homicide profiles, revealing varied substance abuse patterns among different criminal subgroups.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Criminology
- Addiction Psychiatry
Background:
- Substance abuse is frequently associated with violent crime.
- Understanding the relationship between intoxication and homicide is crucial for criminal profiling and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patterns of substance abuse and intoxication among murderers.
- To determine if murderers represent a homogeneous group regarding substance abuse.
- To develop a typology of homicide profiles based on substance abuse patterns.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 100 murderers' substance abuse and intoxication levels at the time of their crimes.
- Application of cluster analytic techniques to demographic and causal factors.
- Development of a seven-profile homicide typology based on 13 proximate causal factors.
Main Results:
- Over half of subjects abused drugs, and nearly half were intoxicated during their crimes, with alcohol being the most common substance.
- The study identified seven distinct homicide profiles.
- Two profiles showed very high substance abuse/intoxication rates, three showed intermediate rates, and two showed low rates, with varying primary substances across profiles.
Conclusions:
- Murderers are not a homogeneous population concerning substance abuse.
- Substance abuse is a significant etiological factor in specific homicide profiles but not universally.
- The findings support tailored approaches to understanding and addressing substance abuse in relation to homicide.