Personality dynamics of heroin use.

Compared 59 white male heroin addicts with 26 psychiatric patients, 142 incarcerated delinquents, 37 undergraduate marihuana users, and 108 police officers using the California Psychological Inventory. Results suggest that the heroin users were relatively normal in terms of social poise and self-esteem; however, they were significantly more hostile, rebellious, and irresponsible than any of the comparison groups. The addicts seemed relatively well adjusted, suggesting that their drug use is symptomatic not of neurosis but of a generalized antisocial disposition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)