Differences Between Sexual and Nonsexual Homicides of Women in the United States: Findings From the National Violent Death Reporting System

Sexual homicide (SH) is the most severe outcome of sexual violence and disproportionately affects women. While SH is rare (<1% in the U.S.) and gravely understudied, it is among the most violent, feared, and well publicized forms of murder. Thus, examining predictors is pertinent to identifying targets for prevention and response efforts. Secondary analysis of 2015–2018 National Violent Death Reporting System data on 6461 female homicide victims age 20–64 was conducted to determine if SH represents a unique killing characterized by specific offender, victim, and incident profiles. Law enforcement and coroner/medical examiner narratives were reviewed to identify cases with sexual elements ( N=324). Logistic regression estimated odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Findings highlight important differences between SH and non-SH. SH victims were more likely to be single (AOR=1.7, p=.006), have a substance abuse problem (AOR=1.4, p=.04), or engaged in prostitution (AOR=10.4, p<.001). SH suspects were more likely to be male (AOR=2.5, p=.04), use an illicit substance in the preceding hours (AOR=1.6, p=.03), or had recent contact with police (AOR=1.6, p=.01). SH was more likely to occur in a hotel/motel (AOR=3.0, p=.002), by asphyxiation (AOR =13.38, p<.001), be perpetrated against an acquaintance (AOR=1.64, p=.007), or be precipitated by another serious crime (AOR=2.1, p<.001). Findings advance our understanding of SH victim, suspect, and incident profiles, which can help to better inform police/investigative practices and crime prevention strategies/interventions as well as to improve how SH cases are managed in correctional programs for offenders who have the opportunity for release back into society.

DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM BY THE ZIMBABWEAN YOUTH: A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Drug abuse has become a problem among youths in Zimbabwe, so dire is the situation that more than half of the youths’ population, approximately 57% in Zimbabwe are involved in drug abuse. The statistics on youth drug abuse in Zimbabwe increase yearly despite measures implemented by various stakeholders to fight the pandemic. The study seeks to understand the problem of drug abuse within the Zimbabwean context from a psychological perspective. The current study takes a desk research approach to understand the problem of drug abuse by the youth in Zimbabwe. The study unearths the most affected age group by drug abuse, the causes of drug abuse, the types of drug abuse and the effects of drug abuse to that age group. The study reviewed relevant literature, using key terms in the study, which are youth, drug abuse and problem. Literature was systematically categorised into categories of causes of drug abuse, types of drug abuse and the effects of drug abuse among the youth. Findings from the study are that, the youth are the most affected age group by drug abuse in Zimbabwe and the problem stems from lack of self-control and negative self-concept on the youth drug abusers. The study also established that cannabis is the most abused drug in Zimbabwe and that the problem of drug abuse has negative effects to the drug abuser, family, community and nation at large. The current study recommends for future studies to establish intervention programs in Zimbabwe that aim to enhance self-control and self-concept in youth drug abusers.

Linkage and continuity of care after release from prison: an evaluation of central registration points for drug users in Belgium

Purpose This paper aims to report the findings of an evaluation study concerning the Central Registration Points (CRPs) for drug users in Belgian prisons. CRPs support drug users to link with community-based services. Design/methodology/approach The study applied a multi-method approach that involved an exploratory literature review; a secondary analysis of the CRPs’ databases; a qualitative study of the perceptions of a diverse sample of stakeholders with regard to the functioning of CRPs; and a prospective registration study. Findings One-third of the clients never attended an outpatient or residential substance abuse service before prison entry. This illustrates that the CRPs managed to reach clients who were not previously reached by (substance abuse) treatment services. All interviewed actors emphasized the added value of the CRPs in terms of informing, contacting, motivating and referring prisoners with a substance abuse problem. Practical implications Based on the research findings, two issues seem to be of paramount importance in the successful practice of CRPs: the confidentiality and specific expertise on (substance abuse) treatment. Given the complex situation of drug users in prison, an independent positioning and categorical assistance with drug-specific expertise seem to be essential. Originality/value CRPs can be considered to be one of the “building blocks” that contribute to high-quality care and continuity of care for drugs users in detention.

Examining Predictive Validity of the Level of Service Inventory–Ontario Revision (LSI-OR) Substance Abuse Subscale for Different Types of Substance Users

Substance abuse is a risk factor for recidivism that is commonly assessed by the Level of Service Inventory–Ontario Revision (LSI-OR) via the Substance Abuse subscale. Research has yet to examine the predictive validity of this subscale relative to types of substances abused. To explore this, substance abuse history, LSI-OR information, and recidivism were coded for a sample of 498 individuals convicted of a crime with a current substance abuse problem. These individuals were classified by the types and number of substances abused. Results of this study provide some evidence supporting the predictive validity of the LSI-OR Substance Abuse subscale. Furthermore, we found preliminary evidence supporting the predictive validity of the subscale for substance abusers relative to types of substances abused and for those who abuse a single substance versus multiple substances. These results have implications for research, policy, and correctional practice.

Determining the Effects of Psychosocial and Spiritual Support Among Patients With Substance Abuse: A Scoping Review

Substance use disorder (SUD) has both social and public health problems with a substantial burden to society. SUD is a type of mental illness and has been described as a chronic relapsing disease. Treatments for SUD may include among others, psychosocial rehabilitation as a provision to comprehensive treatment to address the social and behavioral issues. These psychosocial components can address the issues of morality, spirituality, and religion. Religion and spirituality are believed to support SUD clients in the reduction of drug use, other associated high-risk behaviors, and criminal issues. In promoting treatment retention, it is important to reduce the drug use, maintain abstinence, and influence the self-esteem and coping ability of SUD clients. Hence, this review was conducted to determine the effects of psychosocial and spiritual support towards clients with substance abuse problem. We had followed the framework from Arksey and O&rsquo;Malley&rsquo;s scoping review in identifying published studies from specific databases to be included in this review. A total of 8560 articles from various databases were screened. After removing duplicates, two authors independently screened 244 titles and abstracts. A total of eighteen articles were included in the final review. Out of eighteen studies, seventeen studies found that psychosocial support and spiritual needs have positive effect among substance abuse clients. Psychosocial and spiritual supports are beneficial among SUD clients due to various potential factors, such as religious reasons, personal beliefs or philosophical reasons, safety concerns, and a desire for improvements from substance abuse.

Effects of Supraphysiological Doses of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids on the Left Ventricles of Male and Female Mice Submitted to Swimming

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has grown into a worldwide substance abuse problem over the last decades, with the doses taken by illegal users being 10 to 100 times higher than the therapeutic ones. In the present experiment, 60 mice were divided into 3 groups of 20 animals. Group 1 received testosterone cypionate (Deposteron [EMS, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil]); group 2 received stanozolol (Stanozolol Depot, Landerlan, Lambaré, Paraguay), and group 3 received saline solution), each one composed by 10 males and 10 females, treated once a week and put to swimming thrice a week for 2 months. After euthanasia, their chests were opened, the hearts removed and processed histologically for morphometric analyses. The specimens were cut into 6 different sections and each one was measured with the help of an optical microscope with a 40-fold magnification. For such analyses, the Axiovision Rel. 4.8.2 (Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC, Peabody, MA, USA) and Axiovision 4 Module Interactive Measurement (Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC) software were used. The results showed that there was an increase in the diameter of the left ventricles in the male mice treated with Deposteron while in the female animals treated with Winstrol, there was a decrease in the left ventricular diameter in relation to the other two groups. Thus, one can conclude that the use of supraphysiological doses of the given AAS significantly alters the ventricular diameter in both male and female animals, which can cause a considerable change in both heart rate and blood pressure, and potentially induce disorders that are very relevant to the organism.

Diagnostic Issues in Cases of Juvenile with Substance Abuse Problem in Forensic Psychology Field

The article deals with the issues related to the recently-increasing problem of addiction to psychoactive substances in the context of the process of demoralization and offenses committed by minors. By making a scientific and research analysis of the phenomenon, the author looks for risk factors for juveniles falling into the mechanism of addiction, with particular emphasis on the conditions of the family environment. The article is based on theories and reports from international scientific research of the discipline compared to the research carried out directly by the author and the results obtained. The study group consisted of 54 juveniles selected on the basis of research at the Family Diagnostic and Consultative Centers at the District Court in Katowice, where the author works as a specialist in forensic psychology. The research examined the relationship between the intensification of the addiction problem and such variable groups as: intellectual development, educational conditions, conditions of family socialization, social relations, manifestations of demoralization in teenage periods, current life circumstances and psychological variables. The application allows to show particularly important factors to be taken into account in the diagnostic process, as well as to answer the key question: whether the statistical addiction of adolescent addictions is a manifestation of their demoralization or is the main factor and consequence of criminal activities.

Brain Development and the Risk for Substance Abuse

Addiction affects millions of people each year in the United States, with adolescence being a particularly vulnerable period of risk. This chapter provides an overview of recent human imaging and animal studies of adolescent brain development to further elucidate who may be most at risk for developing a substance abuse problem and when they may be most vulnerable. Emphasis on how brain circuitry underlying impulse control and sensitivity to rewards changes across development and how individual variation in this development may contribute to risk for addiction are highlighted. Understanding risk factors and how they change with exposure across development may enhance early detection, management, treatment, and ultimately prevention of substance use disorders.

The Relationships Of Clinical, Socio-demographic and Criminal Factors in a Sample of Forensic Psychiatric Patients

IntroductionThe relationship between clinical factors and both psychosocial and criminal history characteristics among forensic psychiatric patients entering treatment in Lithuania has not been well explored.AimsThe aims and objectives of this presentation are:– to overview the clinical, socio-demographic and criminal factors in a Lithuanian sample of forensic psychiatric patients;– to demonstrate which factors were significant to violent criminal behaviour;– to address some main concerns and issues of risk assessment processes.MethodsData were collected from 325 forensic psychiatric patients’ files in one forensic psychiatric hospital in Lithuania. A sample consisted of 36 (11%) females and 289 (89%) males. The average age of patients was 41.7 years (SD = 14.0).ResultsPsychosis was the most common psychiatric diagnosis. The substance abuse problem was common in this population as well. The results of the logistic regression show that increase in patients’ substance abuse and their age was significantly associated with violent offending.ConclusionsThe study stressed an urgent need for further research of forensic patients in Lithuania.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.