Citation

Brooke D, Taylor C, Gunn J, Maden A. Br. J. Psychiatry 2000; 177: 248-251.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.177.3.248

PMID

11040886

Abstract

BACKGROUND: More treatment for substance misuse should be provided within prisons. AIMS: To examine differences between prisoners on remand with substance misuse problems and other prisoners on remand.

METHOD: Random selection and interview of unconvicted male prisoners (n = 750, a 9.4% sample), plus examination of the prison medical record.

RESULTS: Of the sample of 750, 253 subjects (33.7%) reported either drug- or alcohol-related health problems or dependency. Compared with other prisoners on remand, they reported more childhood adversity, conduct disorder, self-harm, past psychiatric treatment and current mood disorder, and had fewer qualifications, were more likely to be unemployed and have more housing difficulties.

CONCLUSIONS: One-third of unconvicted men in prison report substance-related problems, and these are a marker for vulnerability within a disadvantaged population. Health care providers should involve this group in treatment and rehabilitation, both inside prison and following release.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Adult; Dependency, Psychological; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prisons/*statistics & numerical data; Residence Characteristics; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders/*epidemiology/psychology/therapy; United Kingdom/epidemiology