Drug Use Among the Institutionalized Population (From Drug Use in Metropolitan America, P 125-160, 1999, Robert M. Bray and Mary Ellen Marsden, eds. -- See NCJ-178453)

• NCJ Number: 178458
• Author(s): Gregory H. Gaertner; Linda J. Keil
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 36 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC.

Annotation

This chapter examines drug use and related problems among institutionalized persons in the District of Columbia, including residents of correctional facilities, psychiatric facilities, and homes for dependent and neglected children and adolescents.

Abstract

This study was conducted as part of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area Drug Study (DC*MADS). As a prelude to discussing the findings from the Institutionalized Study, the chapter reviews prior data on drug use by institutionalized persons and considers contributions to the drug literature offered by studies of the institutionalized population. These studies include discussions of institutional effectiveness in regulating drug use, drug-use effects on noninstitutionalized life, the relationship of substance abuse to other physical and psychological problems, and the implications of drug use rates for drug treatment needs. The current study collected such data as types of drugs used; patterns of use; frequency of use; and respondents' general experiences with drug use, drug treatment, and consequences of drug use. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in private by specially trained interviewers. The sample was composed of 1,203 individuals in 42 institutions in four categories: correctional institutions, psychiatric institutions, other institutions, and group homes. The chapter presents findings on past-year and past-month use of illicit drugs and alcohol prior to institutionalization and also examines rates during institutionalization by demographic and institutional characteristics. A typology is constructed to characterize drug use among the institutionalized population prior to their being institutionalized. The findings show that not only are the majority of institutionalized persons users of alcohol and other drugs, but many also have experienced problems related to use, have been in substance abuse treatment, or have used primary care services. The implications of the findings are considered in several areas: the prevalence of alcohol and other drug use among the institutionalized population, the effectiveness of institutions in regulating drug use among their residents, the effects of drug use on becoming institutionalized, interactions between substance abuse and other physical and psychological problems, and treatment needs and resources. 6 tables, 2 figures, and 26 references