Methamphetamine Use in Nonurban and Urban Drug Court Clients

• NCJ Number: 209820
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2005 Pages: 260-276
• Author(s): William W. Stoops; Michele Staton Tindall; Allison Mateyoke-Scrivner; Carl Leukefeld
• Date Published: June 2005
• Length: 17 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01-DA13076
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined reported methamphetamine use and its correlates among Kentucky drug court clients and determined whether differences exist between methamphetamine users by drug-court location.

Abstract

Participants in the current study were 500 clients (327 males and 173 females) who entered 1 of 2 Kentucky drug court programs between March 1999 and December 2002. Each of the drug-use and criminal-activity measures encompassed lifetime, past year, and 30 days before drug court program entry. Based on census data, participants were classified as nonurban or urban depending on the drug court's location. Methamphetamine use was assessed through self-reports based on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), and psychological functioning was measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory. Self-reported criminal activity was measured with Inciardi and Martin's version of a criminality scale. Criminal records were coded from drug court files. Of the 500 drug court clients surveyed, 161 reported lifetime methamphetamine use. Methamphetamine users and nonusers differed in their drug-use profiles, self-reported criminal history, and number of criminal offenses. Methamphetamine users were significantly more likely to report stealing or attempting to steal items worth less than or equal to $50; selling drugs other than marijuana; and breaking into a home or vehicle with intent to steal something. They were significantly less likely than nonusers, however, to have weapons charges, probation violations, and other charges on their criminal records. Nonurban and urban methamphetamine users differed in their drug-use profiles, psychological functioning, self-reported criminal history, and number of criminal offenses, suggesting that clinicians and criminal justice officials should consider these differences when planning treatment strategies. 6 tables and 30 references