TY - JOUR PY - 2003// TI - Substance abuse and violence: A review of the literature JO - Aggression and violent behavior A1 - Boles, Sharon M. A1 - Miotto, Karen SP - 155 EP - 174 VL - 8 IS - 2 N2 - Most alcohol and drug use occurs among persons who are not violent. However, alcohol and, to a lesser extent, illicit drugs are present in both offenders and victims in many violent events. The links between psychoactive substances and violence involve broad social and economic forces, the settings in which people obtain and consume the substance, and the biological processes that underlie all human behavior. In the case of alcohol, evidence from laboratory and empirical studies support the possibility of a causal role in violent behavior. Similarly, the psychopharmacodynamics of stimulants, such as amphetamines and cocaine, also suggest that these substances could play a contributing role in violent behavior. On the other hand, most real-world studies indicate that this relationship is exceedingly complex and moderated by a host of factors in the individual and the environment. In addition to psychopharmacological effects, substance use may lead to violence through social processes such as drug distribution systems (systemic violence) and violence used to obtain drugs or money for drugs (economic compulsive violence).
LA - en SN - 1359-1789 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1359-1789(01)00057-X ID - ref1 ER -