NCJ Number
157841
Journal
American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (1992) Pages: 355-366
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The extent of prior drug use and psychosocial problems relating to drug use was examined among 499 jail inmates referred to the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office Substance Abuse Treatment Program.
Abstract
Results revealed that inmates were involved with drugs for an average of more than 7 years and with cocaine for almost 5 years. The majority of inmates reported extremely heavy drug use in the month prior to the last arrest, including 83 percent who had used cocaine. Many drug- dependent inmates reported a shift over time from intranasal to freebase cocaine use. Half of all referrals indicated a pattern of regular use within a year of involvement with drugs. The need for lengthy, heavily structured, and intensive treatment approaches for drug-dependent jail inmates was underscored by the history of chronic cocaine and polydrug abuse, a compulsive pattern of drug use, few successful periods of voluntary abstinence, and severe disruption in vocational, social, and psychological functioning. Their history of infrequent and unsuccessful involvement in rehabilitation programs indicates a significant need for compulsory treatment following release from jail, community supervision to ensure treatment compliance, and development of linkages between jail drug treatment programs, courts, and community treatment providers. Figures and 17 references (Author abstract modified)