NCJ Number
157392
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (1980) Pages: 233-258
Date Published
1980
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This article presents findings from a 1974 survey of State prison inmates to determine their drug histories and criminal histories.
Abstract
The survey involved interviews with 10,400 inmates of State correctional facilities. Findings from the survey were applicable to 191,400 inmates, which was the estimated population of all State correctional facilities at the time of the survey. Findings show that an estimated 61 percent of the inmates stated they had used drugs such as heroin, methadone, cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, or barbiturates at some point in their lives, without a doctor's prescription and outside of a treatment program. A greater percentage of inmates convicted of property crimes (61 percent) had ever used drugs than inmates convicted of violent crimes (56 percent). Inmates were asked if they were under the influence of any drugs at the time of any of the offenses that caused their current imprisonment. Approximately 25 percent of all inmates responded affirmatively to this question. Inmates were also asked if they had been drinking at the time of any of the offenses that resulted in their being incarcerated. Forty percent reported having used alcoholic beverages close to the time of their offenses. Only 4 percent of all inmates were enrolled in drug treatment programs at the time of any of the current offenses that resulted in imprisonment; 9 percent had been enrolled in drug treatment prior to the time of their current offenses. 3 tables, 5 figures, and 6 references