title: Alcohol-related offending in male special hospital patients.
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.
authors.affiliation: Rampton Hospital, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McMurran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D003415:Crime; D004739:England; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*