NCJ Number
107151
Date Published
1986
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Interviews with government and prison officials and a review of trade journals for 1980-84 were used to examine the nature of problems in managing drug-using inmates in the United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and the Federal Republic of Germany and the prison-related drug treatment programs used in those countries.
Abstract
From the available information, apparently the problems related to drug-using inmates in the countries studied are similar to those in the Netherlands. Problems include a disproportionately larger number of drug users in inmate populations than in the general population; prison staff difficulty in communicating with users; the tendency of users to form their own subculture; smuggling, trading, and use of drugs; and lack of success in resocializing drug users. Other problems are the need for measures to prevent drug use, reduced freedom for nonusers, and the need for stricter rules. Placing drug users in noncorrectional treatment centers has been used to address inmate drug use in the United States, but it has not been very successful. In Sweden, many convicted drug users are placed in therapeutic communities and foster families. In Germany, attempts to reduce the number of drug users in prisons have not succeeded. Separate areas for drug-using inmates are generally viewed by prison officials as being worthwhile. There has been little research on recidivism rates for drug users.