Methamphetamine Motivated Murder: Forensic Psychological/Psychiatric & Legal Applications in Criminal Contexts

Abstract

This article examines the clinical and forensic (psycho-legal) aspects of methamphetamine use. The author will describe the clinical and psychiatric effects of the drug on an individual's functioning. Forensic psychological/psychiatric issues including substance-induced psychosis relevant to a not guilty by reason of insanity defense, diminished capacity, and mitigation at capital sentencing will be addressed. Case law pursuant to forensic aspects of methamphetamine use will also be thoroughly explored.

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“…Unfortunately, the forensic literature that outlines the relationship between methamphetamine abuse and aggression [4][5][6][7]14,22,32], with its emphasis on pathology and harm, does not trace the causal relationships of biphasic dosing to behaviour. Forensic research is usually correlational, although reliant on neuropharmacological mechanisms developed from animal studies, and from the methodologies such as positron emission tomography to study human brains [11,30].…”

“…Forensic research infers causation from the molecular mechanisms, and pharmacokinetics developed in experimental animal studies and from in-vitro methodologies. Coroners' toxicology data, forensic assessment, and post-mortem assessment of dopamine brain markers [30] are also useful to map onto experimental pharmacology research [4][5][6][7]. Nonetheless, forensic explanatory models for aggression typically correctly identify misuse of drug, and high-dose, mood-induced changes, psychoses, or withdrawal-related aggression in their explanatory bases [11- 23] sectors are emphasized in the international response, with criminal industry a serious problem for societies, policy strategy and law enforcement.…”

“…Despite a century of pharmaceutical science outlining the basis for medicinal benefits of stimulant [1][2][3], the forensic literature [4][5][6][7], though often correctly, identifies methamphetamine as a drug of abuse. Methamphetamine is also a potentially beneficial pharmacy.…”