Drugs, alcohol and violence in 604 male offenders referred for inpatient psychiatric assessment.

Of 604 White and Coloured male offenders in the Cape referred for inpatient psychiatric observation, 52% habitually indulged heavily in alcohol, drugs (mostly dagga (cannabis)) or both. Indulpence in alcohol alone was frequently associated with violence and sexual assaults, alcohol and drugs together less, and drugs alone least. Those who indulged in drug-taking (i.e. dagga, LSD and hard drugs) were less frequently associated with violence, rape and other sex crimes than were those who did not; 60% of sex offenders were non-abusers. Out of 101 severely psychopathic patients in the sample, only 1 who indulged in drugs but not alcohol was charged with a crime of violence or sex. There was no evidence of a potentiating action between alcohol and dagga towards violent behaviour. Dagga appeared to diminish the action of alcohol, and may inhibit urges toward violence and rape in aggressive persons and psychopaths. Drugs did not release or set off violent reactions, and drug indulgence was associated with stealing without violence. Some implications for forensic psychiatry and arguments about drug indulgence as an extenuating factor in serius crime are discussed.