Citation

Thomas G, McMurran M. Med. Sci. Law 1993; 33(1): 29-32.

Affiliation

Rampton Hospital, Retford, Nottinghamshire.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, British Academy of Forensic Sciences, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8429764

Abstract

In a sample of 61 male Special Hospital patients, 11 (18%) were identified as having alcohol-related problems prior to admission. Ten of these alcohol-abusers were interviewed to gather further information about their drinking, offending, and the relationship between the two. Alcohol abusers showed more serious criminality than non-abusers, having significantly more previous convictions and being responsible for a disproportionately high number of offences of murder and manslaughter. Alcohol-related problems appear to have developed quickly in adolescence culminating in the index offence at around 30 years of age. At this time, the mean self-reported weekly alcohol consumption was 240 units (one unit = 8.5gm alcohol). All but one man admitted to a relationship between alcohol and crime, and most showed motivation to change their future drinking behaviour.

Language: en