Why Alcoholics and Drug Addicts Commit Crimes - Oscar Bamwebaze

Two of my former schoolmates have each been charged with murder at different times, and they are currently in Luzira Upper maximum prison awaiting trial. Chris Gumisiriza, who was my classmate and close friend at Makerere University, was charged with the murder of a Pakistani businessman; Tom Nkurungira (Tonku), who was my schoolmate at Namasagali College, was charged with the brutal murder of his girlfriend a week ago. All these criminal suspects had one thing in common: they were heavy, long term drug addicts and alcoholics.

It is very likely that had they not been drug addicts or alcoholics, they wouldn’t have committed the crimes for which they are being charged. In other words, alcoholism and drug addiction predisposes its victims to criminal behaviour. According to the British Medical Association, up to 70 percent of all domestic murders are alcohol-related. Roizen reveals that most violent offenders were drinking at the time of the offence and he provides their percentages as follows: up to 86 percent of homicide offenders, 37 percent of assault offenders, 60 percent of sexual offenders, up to 57 percent of men and 27 percent of women involved in marital violence, and 13 percent of child abusers.

In a community-based study carried out by Pernanen, it was revealed that 42 percent of violent crimes reported to the police involved alcohol, although 51 percent of the victims interviewed believed that their assailants had been drinking. According to Isralowitz, alcohol abuse is strongly associated with increased risks of committing criminal offences like child abuse, domestic violence, rape, burglary, and assault.

Scientists argue that alcohol may encourage aggression or violence by disrupting normal brain function. This is what is known as the disinhibition hypothesis. In this case, alcohol weakens brain mechanisms that normally restrain impulsive behaviours, including inappropriate aggression. By impairing information processing, alcohol can also lead a person to misjudge social cues, causing him to overreact to a perceived threat. In addition to this, a narrowing of attention may lead to an inaccurate assessment of the future consequences of acting on an immediate violent impulse. In The Healing Power of Self Love (504 pp., $30.95, available at http//www.writersownwords.com/oscarbamwebaze), I explain that:

 

 

 Generally, as a consequence of a troubled childhood, and the combined effects of alcohol and drugs on the brain, alcoholics and drug addicts are impulsive and often get into a course of action without seriously considering the consequences of their actions. Many of them will impulsively commit crimes, and become overwhelmed with remorse afterwards. It is not uncommon for them to weep and mourn a few days after they have committed their crimes. This partly explains why many alcoholics/ drug addicts who respond to treatment, are very unlikely to commit crimes again.

In 2008, a study conducted by Manchester University's National Drug Evidence Centre found that addicts were 50 percent less likely to commit crime again after a course of treatment! On the other hand, addicts who were simply jailed without treatment almost invariably took up crime again upon their release. A recent study found decreased levels of marital violence in couples who completed behavioural marital therapy for alcoholism and remained sober during follow up. The findings of another study suggest that a 10-percent increase in the beer tax could reduce murder by 0.3 percent, rape by 1.32 percent, and robbery by 0.9 percent!!!

Some preliminary experiments have also identified medications that have the potential to reduce violent behaviour. These medications include certain anticonvulsants like Carbamazepine, mood stabilizers like lithium, and antidepressants, especially those that increase serotonin activity like fluoxetine.

Taking the above facts into consideration, it is extremely important that we give alcoholics and drug addicts in prison an opportunity to reform.

 

Sources: