ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the manifold ways in which biosocial factors, substance misuse, and criminal behavior interrelate. The use and abuse of licit and illicit substances have far-reaching implications for the health and well-being of individuals and their communities. Substance misuse constitutes an important social and public health problem in the United States and across the globe. Evidence suggests that substance misuse is particularly prevalent among young people in the United States. A large body of evidence points to a connection between substance misuse and criminal behaviour. Research on the biosocial factors associated with substance misuse and crime suggests an important degree of overlap. Low resting heart rate has consistently been identified as a risk factor for violent, antisocial, and criminal behaviour. Traumatic brain injury refers to head injuries that lead to either a loss of consciousness or amnesia, and are associated with subsequent impairment with respect to a cognitive and social functioning.
