ROLE of Alcohol IN Homicides: A THREE YEAR Review

The use of Alcohol may produce adverse effects on brain tissues that affect judgment. Such alteration in judgment has therefore made alcohol to serve as an enhancer of homicide, which is now recognized as a cause of premature mortality in Africa. Alcohol increases the likelihood of risk-taking and provocative behaviour by some potential victims; this might in turn lead to violent interactions and homicides. Thus alcohol often plays some role, more commonly in the culprits but occasionally also in the victims. Homicides usually take place between 6pm and 6am. Weapons commonly employed in homicide include sharp objects or use of clubs. : To characterise the relationship between alcohol use and homicide victimization with a view to determine the magnitude of contribution of alcohol use to homicide activities in Nigeria and make recommendations as appropriate for its control. Method: Library search, , Police and Hospital records. Result: Most of all alcohol induced homicide involves people that are known to each other. People within the age group 20 – 40 are most susceptible due to great interpersonal interaction that may end up in misunderstandings and frustrations and therefore predisposing to causation of felonies, including homicide. Conclusion: Heightened co-ordination in responses to prevention of alcoholism and homicides can be enhanced by a collective approach. Nobody is left out in this approach, because homicide due to alcoholism is a preventable one. Therefore, if enhanced expertise, network of agencies and individuals collaborate well with one another, violence and injuries can be reduced.