Drug Use Forecasting and Intervention Strategies (From State of Corrections: Proceedings of ACA Annual Conferences, 1989, P 155-162, 1990, Ann Dargis, ed. - See NCJ-122583)

• NCJ Number: 122608
• Author(s): M M Heaps
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: American Correctional Association
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The latest findings from the Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) System established by the National Institute of Justice in 1986 indicate that drug use among people arrested is far more prevalent than even experts who work within the criminal justice and treatment systems would have guessed.

Abstract

DUF operates in 25 cities and uses data from anonymous urine specimens and interviews from male and female arrestees, most of whom have been charged with non-drug felony offenses. The urine tests reveal only the presence of certain drugs from the previous 24 to 48 hours and do not indicate patterns of abuse or addiction. In addition, they do not test for the presence of alcohol. The results for the third quarter of 1988 showed that approximately three-fourths of those tested had used drugs other than alcohol within 48 hours before their arrests. The cities ranged from 37 percent to 85 percent positive tests. Results indicate the need for a comprehensive, long-term strategy of sanctions and services to drug-abusing offenders. Increases in funding and personnel and collaboration between the criminal justice and treatment systems are also needed. Figures.