NCJ Number
175541
Date Published
1997
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study compared the psychosocial adaptation of addicted inmates with that of non-addicted inmates at Montreal's detention center (Canada), using the Addiction Severity Index; the study's aim was to identify the treatment needs of inmates.
Abstract
A sample of 304 inmates admitted to the detention center during the summer of 1993 was randomly chosen from the daily admission list. A validated French translation of the Addiction Severity Index adapted for the correctional setting was used to diagnose addiction and to obtain a psychosocial profile of the inmates admitted to the detention center. It was first determined that one-third of the inmate (n=102) who participated in the study presented an addiction profile according to the norms developed by Brochu and Guyon (1955). The Legal Status scale showed that addicts were more prone to be accused of other offenses in addition to those for which they were currently in custody, compared to non-addicts. The psychological profile of addicts was also more severely impaired. More of them reported severe depression, severe tensions, hallucinations, attention deficits, or lack of anger control. On the Family/Social Relationships scale, addicts generally reported more serious conflicts with their environment than other inmates. Addicts also reported a more severely impaired medical status. The employment status of addicts was significantly more problematic than that of non-addicts. 3 tables and 11 references