NCJ Number
161601
Date Published
1995
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Data from 482 arrestees in Cuyahoga County (Ohio) formed the basis of an analysis on the need and demand for alcohol and other drug treatment and prevention services with the arrestee population at the time of arraignment.
Abstract
The study used interactive voice response interviewing, a technique that lets participants listen to computer- generated questions on a telephone and respond by touch-tone reply. The sample included all arrestees age 18 or over scheduled for arraignment during a 5-week period in 1995. The participants included those released on bail prior to arraignment and those held in jail. Urine samples were collected from the bail sample following the interview. The jail sample participants were given the choice of responding to the interview without providing a urine sample. Results revealed that almost 40 percent reported their physical health as fair or poor and almost 60 percent reported their emotional health as fair or poor. A high proportion of participants reported drug abuse during their lifetimes; 80.8 percent of the males and 74.1 percent of the females had used marijuana, and 47.5 percent of the males and 43.9 percent of the females had used crack cocaine. Fifty-six percent of the males and 38.8 percent of the females had used marijuana during the past year; 31.8 percent of the males and 36.7 percent of the females had used crack cocaine during the past year. At the time of arraignment, 23.1 percent tested positive for marijuana use in the past 24-48 hours, and 34.1 percent tested positive for marijuana. One- fourth reported daily alcohol use; most of these reported drinking five or more drinks on the average. Findings indicated significant proportions that could be targeted for alcohol or drug interventions. Figure, tables, and 11 references