ABSTRACT
Some individuals show increased levels of aggressive behaviors after the use of psychoactive drugs of abuse. The DSM–IV describes several possible associations between aggressive behavior and drug use in humans. Characteristically, acute ethanol intoxication produces marked behavioral changes including higher rate and intensity of aggressive behavior; individual drinkers may become atypically belligerent and assaultive. However, the differential diagnosis process must consider the use of other sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytics drugs. Less likely to be associated with aggression, amphetamine and cocaine intoxication may engender maladaptive behavioral changes, such as fighting, whereas belligerence and assaultiveness might happen during either inhalant or PCP intoxications. Irritability, frustration, and anger have also been reported during withdrawal from nicotine or opioids (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Ethanol clearly stands out as the drug most frequently associated with violent and aggressive behavior in humans (Collins, 1990; Miczek, DeBold, et al., 1994).
