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Abstract
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While the empirical association of drinking and problem drinking to violence is well established, the etiological nature of the relationship is poorly understood. Using data collected from 1,149 convicted male felons, the acute (drinking just before the violent event) and chronic (a psychiatric diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence) effects of alcohol use on violence were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship of acute and chronic alcohol effects to incarceration for a violent offense and arrest for a violent offense, with demographic and criminal history factors controlled. The acute effects of alcohol were found to be significantly associated with incarceration for a violent offense, but the net explanatory capacity of acute alcohol effects was not large. Chronic alcohol effects were not significantly associated with incarceration for a violent offense or arrest for a violent offense in the previous year. The findings were interpreted as being consistent with the hypothesis that alcohol effects violence directly, acting through the acute effects of use, rather than indirectly through the effects of underlying or mediating factors.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The intent of this article by Collins and Schlenger was to examine the relationship between acute/chronic alcohol use and violent offenses.
METHODOLOGY:
The authors employed a quasi-experimental design by gathering information from 1,149 male felons (86.6% of the population) between March and June of 1983. These individuals were interviewed at five correctional reception centers by professional survey interviewers. The core of the interview was comprised of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS), developed under the sponsorship of the National Institute of Mental Health. Of the participating felons, 28% were aged 18-21, 47% were 22-23 and 25% were over 30. White males comprised 45% of the respondents, while 51% were black and 4% were other races. Twenty-five percent of the inmates interviewed were high school graduates. The dependent variables of violence were examined through two dichotomies: 1) incarceration for a violent offense or another offense, and 2) arrested in the past year for a violent offense or not arrested in the past year for a violent offense. Two dichotomous variables were also constructed as independent variables: 1) drinking during the time of the incident or not drinking at the time of the incident, and 2) presence of a chronic problem with alcohol or absence of a chronic problem with alcohol. The model also included age, race, marital status, education, number of previous arrests and age at first arrest.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Race was the only variable clearly associated with incarceration for a violent offense. Nonwhites were more than twice as likely as whites to be incarcerated for a violent offense. Drinking at the time of the offense was significantly associated with incarceration for a violent offense at a rate of 1.74 times more than those who were not drinking before their incarcerated offense. Light, moderate, and heavy drinking were all associated with such an offense, with heavy drinking slightly less associated with the dependent variable. However, a diagnosis for chronic alcohol abuse or dependence was not associated with incarceration for a violent offense. Nonwhites were almost twice as likely as whites to have been arrested in the year prior to incarceration for a violent offense. Variables which were not significantly related were marital status, education, number of career arrests and age at first arrest.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors suggested that further studies focus on the specific, systematic relationship that alcohol consumption has with violent acts. The findings of this study suggested that it was the proximal effect of alcohol use, not the chronic alcoholic that was associated with a likelihood of violence, and the authors recommended further studies that examine this relationship. A caveat was added by the authors that while the relationship was strong, the association might have been spurious and future work should examine whether drinking was a genuine cause of violence. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Adult Male
KW - Adult Inmate
KW - Adult Offender
KW - Adult Violence
KW - Substance Use Effects
KW - Alcohol Use Effects
KW - Alcohol Related Violence
KW - Male Violence
KW - Male Substance Use
KW - Male Offender
KW - Male Inmate
KW - Inmate Studies
KW - Incarcerated
KW - Violence Causes
Language: en |