Homicide and Psychoactive Substance use among Offenders in a Nigerian Prison.

Abstract

Background: Information from previous reports tend to suggest that drug use is associated with crime, particularly with homicide offences. Data on drug use among homicide offenders are scarce in Nigeria. Aim: The study was carried out to determine the relationship between psychoactive substance use and homicide. Method: All the 66 homicide offenders in a Nigerian prison and 66 matched control prisoners, charged for nonviolent offences were studied. Information on socio-demographic variables and drug use was obtained from all the respondents by interview. Results: Before imprisonment, the homicide offenders reported the use of alcohol, cannabis and stimulants with rates of 34.6%, 15.2% and 1.5% respectively. During imprisonment, lower rates of use were reported for these substances. These were 6.1% 1.5% and 6.1% respectively. The consolidated drug use rate among the non-violent prisoners (74.2%) was significantly higher than for the homicide defendants (53.0%), before imprisonment (p