Beliefs about substance use and the attribution of blame for offending

Abstract

Substance misuse has been associated with an increased risk of violence and offending in those with severe mental illness. The current study explored the relationship between attitudes regarding substance use and the attribution of blame for a criminal offence in a sample of male mentally disordered offenders with a history of substance misuse. Participants completed measures that examined general beliefs about substance use and blame attributions for an offence they had committed, and identified substances previously used. Cannabis and alcohol were the most frequently used substances, and polysubstance use was common. Results indicated a significant correlation between substance-related beliefs and the attribution of blame for offending; in particular, greater maladaptive substance-related beliefs were correlated with higher externalisation of blame for the index offence (p<0.001). The need for appropriate interventions that address the relationship between substance use, offending and mental health in forensic populations to be developed is considered.

Keywords:

• substance use
• beliefs
• attributions
• offending

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Séan Whyte and Professor Gisli Gudjonsson for their advice on drafts and to all the patients who participated in the research.