Previous studies have shown that nearly half of all addicted individuals have some sort of antisocial disorder; the latest research found an association between nearly all drugs of abuse and antisocial disorders, according to researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) who conducted an epidemiological survey of 43,000 adults.

"The strong and significant association between substance abuse or addiction and conditions such as antisocial personality disorder, conduct disorder, and adult antisocial behavior suggests that prevention and treatment strategies need to apply an integrated approach," said NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow. "By also treating antisocial syndromes, particularly those that develop in adolescence or persist over time, we may be able to substantially reduce substance abuse and addiction."

Researchers said that the risk for having both an addiction and an antisocial personality disorder or adult antisocial behavior were higher for women than men. People who were dependent on tranquilizers, sedatives, marijuana, inhalants, or hallucinogens were more likely the have antisocial personality disorders; those who abused sedatives, amphetamines, alcohol, cocaine, or hallucinogens were more likely to have adult antisocial behavior problems.

The study was published in the June 2005 edition of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

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