ALCOHOLISM AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR (FROM ECOLOGIC-BIOCHEMICAL APPROACHES TO TREATMENT OF DELINQUENTS AND CRIMINALS, 1978, BY LEONARD J HIPPCHEN SEE NCJ-50444)

• NCJ Number: 50446
• Author(s): R F SMITH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Van Nostrand Reinhold
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE LONG HISTORY OF ALCOHOL USE IS TRACED, AND THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND CRIME IS DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE USE OF ALCOHOL TO RELAX SOCIALLY ACQUIRED INHIBITIONS DATES BACK TO EARLIEST TIMES. THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND CRIME OCCURS BECAUSE OF THE RELAXING OF RESTRAINTS THAT ARE NOT DEEPLY IMBEDDED WITHIN OUR ADULT CHARACTERS SO THAT UNDERLYING HOSTILITIES COME TO THE SURFACE. IT IS OBSERVED THAT ALCOHOL ANESTHETIZES INHIBITIONS WHILE LEAVING AGGRESSIONS INTACT. THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF NATIVE AMERICANS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL IS NOTED, AS IS THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROBLEM OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AND CRIME IN JAMAICA AND ALCOHOL USE LEADING TO EXACERBATION OF TRIBAL HOSTILITIES IN EMERGING AFRICAN NATIONS. MARITAL PROBLEMS, STREET GANG HOSTILITIES, AND HOSTILITIES AGAINST SOCIETY IN GENERAL ARE ALL AGGRAVATED BY ALCOHOL. IN ADDITION, ALCOHOL CONTRIBUTES TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY DIRECTLY BECAUSE IT IS A REGULATED AND TAXED SUBSTANCE. IT ALSO RESULTS IN CRIMES SUCH AS 'PUBLIC INTOXICATION' AND 'DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.' THE CHEMICAL CHANGES WHICH OCCUR IN THE BODY AT VARYING LEVELS OF INTOXICATION ARE DETAILED. THE INCREASED RELEASE OF ADRENALINE-LIKE SUBSTANCES, WHICH THE BODY INDUCES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF MOTOR CONTROL, IS CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AND MAY BE ONE REASON WHY INTOXICATED PERSONS ARE PROVOKED EASILY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT SOCIETY MUST FACE THE PROBLEMS THAT RESULT FROM ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND CAN NO LONGER CONSIDER ALCOHOL TO BE A HARMLESS RECREATIONAL DRUG. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)