Substance Abuse in prisoners

The United States now incarcerates people at a rate nearly five times the world average primarily because of drug offenses. More than two-thirds of jail inmates were found to be dependent on or to abuse alcohol or drugs. Furthermore, half of all convicted jail inmates were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their offense.[31] Substance abuse and the enforcement of antidrug laws have fundamentally affected the growth of America's prisons and jails over the past 20 years and the types of inmates they house. This rise corresponds to the focus on the War on Drugs now entering its 40th year in the United States. Enforcement of harsh drug laws has served to fill the prisons with minor players in this war (possession of small amounts of illegal substances) and has done little to abate the buying and selling of narcotics and other illegal substances.

In the United States, an overwhelming majority of state and federal inmates as well as jail inmates were either convicted of substance-related crimes such as drug selling or driving while intoxicated; were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their crime; committed a crime to get money to buy drugs; or had histories of regular illegal drug use or alcohol abuse.[32] More than 277,000 individuals, which accounts for 20 percent of state prisoners, and more than 60 percent of federal prisoners have been put in jail as a result of state and federal drug laws.

Statistics from the United States show that half of state and federal inmates were abusing or were dependent on drugs in the year before their incarceration. Nearly half of violent offenders in state prisons met the criteria for recent drug dependence or abuse and more than a quarter of these individuals committed their current offense while under the influence of drugs. Ten percent said that the need for money for drugs was a motive for their crimes.[33]

Women were more likely than men to have used drugs before their incarceration. In fact, some studies have shown that women appear to have greater problems with mental health and substance abuse than men.

{embed="ref/stat-menu-prison-health-care"}

One study identified that women in prisons used drugs more frequently and that they used harder drugs compared with male prisoners.[34] Acknowledging this situation, state and federal prisons have implemented drug treatment programs. Among drug-dependent or -abusing prisoners, almost half of state and federal inmates took part in drug abuse treatment programs since their admission to prison.

The prevalence of substance abuse and dependence, although highly variable, is typically many orders of magnitude higher in prisoners than the general population, particularly for women with drug problems. This highlights the need for screening for substance abuse and dependence at reception into prison, effective treatment while in custody, and follow-up on release. Specialist addiction services for prisoners have the potential to make a considerable impact.