U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report
July 2005, NCJ 209588 Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 By Jennifer C. Karberg and Doris J. James Highlights BJS Statisticians In 2002, 68% of jail inmates reported symptoms in the year before their admission to jail that met substance dependence or abuse criteria In 2002 more than two-thirds of jail Percent of jail inmates $ 52% of female jail inmates inmates were found to be dependent Alcohol were found to be dependent on on or to abuse alcohol or drugs, based Alcohol Drugs or drugs alcohol or drugs, compared to on data from the Survey of Inmates in Any dependence or abuse 47% 53% 68% Dependence 23 36 45 44% of male inmates. Local Jails, 2002. Two in five inmates Abuse only 24 18 23 were dependent on alcohol or drugs, No dependence or abuse 53 47 32 while nearly 1 in 4 abused alcohol or drugs, but were not dependent on 3 in 4 convicted property or drug offenders met substance dependence them. Estimates of substance depend- or abuse criteria, compared to 2 in 3 violent or public-order offenders Percent of convicted inmates ence or abuse were based on criteria Use at Dependence $ Half of all convicted jail inmates specified in the Diagnostic and Statisti- Offense offense or abuse were under the influence of drugs cal Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth All inmates 50% 71% or alcohol at the time of offense. Violent 47 67 edition (DSM-IV). Property 47 73 Drug 52 73 $ In 2002, 16% of convicted jail Jail inmates who met the criteria for Public-order* 37 66 inmates said they committed their substance dependence or abuse (70%) *Excludes DWI/DUI. offense to get money for drugs, Percent of jail inmates compared to 15% in 1996. were more likely than other inmates Prior Dependence Other (46%) to have a criminal record. They sentences* or abuse inmates $ Inmates who met substance were nearly twice as likely as other Total 100% 100% 0 20 41 dependence/abuse criteria were inmates to have been homeless in the 1 16 20 twice as likely as other inmates to year before their offense (16% com- 2 17 16 have three or more prior probation 3 or more 47 22 pared to 9%) or to have grown up with or incarceration sentences. a parent or guardian who abused alco- *To probation or incarceration. hol or drugs (37% compared to 17%). 63% of inmates who met substance dependence or abuse criteria had participated in substance abuse treatment or other programs in the past Nearly two-thirds of jail inmates who Percent of jail inmates $ 47% of jail inmates who met the Regulara Depend- met the criteria for substance depend- criteria for substance dependence ence or abuse had participated in Participated in substance substance ence or treatment or other programs use abuse or abuse had participated in sub- substance abuse treatment or other Ever any treatment/program 58% 63% stance abuse treatment or other alcohol or drug programs in the past. Treatment 40 44 programs while under correctional Other programs 42 46 More than half of the inmates who had supervision. used alcohol or drugs at the time of Under correctional supervision 43% 47% Treatment 27 30 their offense had ever received treat- $ About a fifth of convicted jail Other programs 32 36 inmates who met the criteria for ment or participated in other substance b After admission to jail 17% 19% substance dependence or abuse abuse programs while under correc- Treatment 6 7 had participated in substance tional supervision. Other programs 14 16 aUsed once a week for at least a month. abuse treatment or other programs bConvicted inmates only. after their admission to jail. 68% of jail inmates met substance Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) categories, in accordance with the dependence or abuse criteria included a series of questions associ- DSM-IV. For a diagnosis of depend- ated with the DSM-IV criteria for ence jail inmates had to report at least More than two-thirds of jail inmates measuring dependence or abuse in the 3 of 7 dependence symptoms. A were dependent on or abused alcohol 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails. diagnosis of abuse required offenders or drugs, based on symptoms for The questions addressed problems or to have at least 1 of 4 abuse diagnosing substance dependence or symptoms related to alcohol or drug symptoms. Because a diagnosis of abuse in the DSM-IV (table 1). In use in the 12 months prior to the substance dependence preempts a collaboration with the National Institute inmates’ admission to jail. diagnosis of abuse, inmates who met on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the the criteria for both dependence and The questions about substance abuse abuse (44%) or dependence only were grouped into four categories and (1.0%) were classified as dependent. those on dependence into seven
Prevalence of substance dependence or abuse symptoms among jail inmates, 2002
Percent of jail inmates The Survey of Inmates in Local Jails, 2002, Alcohol included a series of questions to form a Abuse symptoms Alcohol Drugs or drugs measure of the prevalence of substance y Failure to fulfill major role obligations 15.9% 26.7% 33.1% dependence or abuse as defined in the Lose job; job/school problems, such as missing too DSM-IV. These estimates are not compara- much work/school, being demoted at work, dropping ble to findings reported from previous jail out of school; not taking care of children inmate surveys. y Continued use in hazardous situations 30.0 29.7 43.0 Get in situations that increased chances of getting hurt, Abuse symptoms included repeated use of like driving, swimming, using machinery or walking in unsafe area alcohol or drugs in hazardous situations or recurrent occupational, educational, legal or y Alcohol/drug-related legal problems 20.9 25.0 37.7 Arrested or held by police due to drinking or drug use social problems related to alcohol or drug use. The most common abuse criteria y Recurrent social or interpersonal problems 39.8 43.3 57.8 reported by jail inmates were recurrent Arguments/problems with spouse, intimate, family or friends or get into physical fights social problems because of alcohol (40%), drugs (43%), and the combination of Dependence symptoms alcohol or drugs (58%). y Tolerance 21.0% 33.4% 42.1% Usual drinks/drugs had less effect; or drank more The dependence criteria covered a range of or used more drugs to get the wanted effect symptoms, including behavioral, cognitive, y Withdrawal 19.5 27.8 36.4 and physiological problems. The criteria Bad aftereffects from cutting down or stopping alcohol/ most often cited by inmates were impaired drugs, such as shaking, feeling nervous, anxious, sick to control (44%) and continued use despite stomach; or taking a drink/drugs to get over any bad problems (45%). aftereffects y Compulsive use Overall, a third of jail inmates reported no More alcohol/drug use or using for longer periods 23.6 30.9 42.7 than intended abuse symptoms. Sixteen percent had one abuse symptom, while 17% cited all four y Impaired control 20.1 34.8 44.4 More than once wanted to cut down/tried to cut down abuse symptoms. Forty-six percent of jail but couldn't inmates reported three or more symptoms y Time spent obtaining, using, recovering 18.4 30.5 39.0 of substance dependence, including 18% Spent a lot of time using alcohol/drugs or getting over who reported all seven symptoms. About the bad aftereffects 38% reported no dependence symptoms. y Neglect of activities 13.2 25.7 30.8 Gave up on activities of interest/importance, like work, Abuse symptoms Dependence symptoms school, hobbies, or associating with family and friends Number of Number of y Continued use despite problems 22.3 35.6 44.8 positive Alcohol positive Alcohol Continued to drink/use drugs even though it was responses or drugs responses or drugs causing emotional or psychological problems. 0 32.7% 0 37.7% Note: See References for sources on measuring prevalence of substance dependence 1 15.6 1-2 16.3 or abuse using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition 2 16.5 3-4 12.4 (DSM-IV). 3 17.9 5-6 16.0 4 17.3 7 17.6
2 Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 Jail inmates classified as abusers met Table 1. Prevalence of substance dependence or abuse at least one of the abuse criteria (23%) among jail inmates, 2002 without dependence. Estimated number of Percent of jail inmates By specific type of substance, 53% of Diagnosis inmatesa Alcohol Drugs Alcohol or drugs jail inmates were dependent on or Any dependence or abuse 415,242 46.6% 53.5% 68.0% Dependence and abuse 269,632 22.2 34.4 44.2 abused drugs, compared to 47% for Dependence only 6,081 0.6 1.4 1.0 alcohol. About 36% of jail inmates were Abuse only 139,530 23.8 17.7 22.9 found to be dependent on drugs, and No dependence or abuseb 195,054 53.4 46.5 32.0 18% abused drugs. Twenty-three Note: See References for sources on measuring dependence or abuse based percent of jail inmates were dependent on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV). on alcohol, and nearly 24% abused aExcludes 20,945 inmates for whom data were unknown. b alcohol. An estimated 32% of inmates Includes inmates who did not use alcohol or drugs. did not meet the criteria for substance inmates had higher rates of substance The rate of substance dependence or dependence or abuse. dependence than male inmates. Nearly abuse varied significantly by age of 52% of female inmates were found to inmates. Jail inmates between ages Over half of all female jail inmates be dependent on alcohol or drugs, 25 and 44 had the highest rate of sub- reported substance dependence compared to 44% of male inmates. stance dependence or abuse (7 in 10 Men (24%) had higher rates of sub- inmates). Those age 55 or older had There was little difference in the overall stance abuse (without dependence) the lowest rate (nearly 5 in 10 inmates). prevalence of substance dependence than women (17%). or abuse between men (68%) and When the rate of dependence was women (69%) in local jails (table 2). White and middle age inmates estimated separately from abuse only, When substance dependence or abuse had relatively higher rates of inmates age 55 or older reported the was estimated separately, female jail substance dependence or abuse same levels of dependence (23%) or Fewer than 1 in 10 persons in the general population met the criteria Substance dependence or abuse Table 2. Substance dependence for substance dependence or abuse among jail inmates varied by racial or or abuse among jail inmates, ethnic groups. White inmates had by selected characteristics, 2002 • In 2002, 9% of the U.S. resident significantly higher levels of substance population age 12 or older (or 22 million Percent of jail inmates persons) were found to be dependent dependence or abuse (78%), relative Depen- Abuse on or to abuse alcohol or drugs, accord- to black inmates (64%) and Hispanic Characteristic All dence only ing to the National Survey on Drug Use inmates (59%). A larger proportion All jail inmates 68.0% 45.2% 22.9% and Health, 2002. of white inmates (55%) than blacks Gender (40%) or Hispanics (36%) also were Male 67.9% 44.3% 23.6% • Unlike men and women in local jails dependent on alcohol or drugs. Female 69.2 51.8 17.4
who had nearly the same rate of a substance dependence/abuse (around Race/Hispanic origin A similar rate of substance abuse b 69%), in the general population the White 77.7% 55.4% 22.3% (without dependence) existed among Blackb 64.1 40.4 23.7 rate for men (13%) was twice that for Hispanic 58.7 35.7 23.0 women (6%). racial or ethnic categories. Around a Otherc 66.0 45.4 20.7 quarter of black (24%) and Hispanic Prevalence of substance Age dependence or abuse in (23%) inmates were found to abuse 24 or younger 66.1% 40.3% 25.8% the U.S. resident alcohol or drugs, compared to 22% 25-34 70.5 48.1 22.4 population of white inmates. 35-44 71.4 50.4 21.0 Number 45-54 61.9 41.7 20.3 (in millions) Percent 55 or older 46.2 23.1 23.1 Substance White females comprised a slightly Most serious offense Alcohol or drugs 22.0 9.4% higher proportion of women who met Alcohol 18.1 7.7 Violent 63.1% 40.8% 22.3% Drugs 7.1 3.0 the criteria for substance dependence Property 71.7 50.6 21.1 or abuse than their representation in Drug 72.1 49.6 22.4 Public-order 67.0 41.3 25.7 Gender the overall female jail population. White a Male 14.5 12.8% females were 43% of women in jail, but Excludes inmates who did not specify Female 7.4 6.1 a race. 48% of women who were dependent bExcludes persons of Hispanic origin. Note: Substance dependence or abuse was c measured as defined in the DSM-IV. Based on or abused alcohol or drugs. Includes Asians, American Indians, Alaska on U.S. resident population age 12 or older. Similarly, white males represented Natives, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and inmates who specified more Source: Substance Abuse and Mental 35% of men in jail, but about 40% of Health Services Administration, National than one race. Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002, U.S. men who met the conditions for Department of Health and Human Services. substance dependence or abuse.
Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 3 Table 3. Family background of jail inmates, by substance dependence Table 4. Criminal history of jail or abuse, 2002 inmates, by substance dependence or abuse, 2002 Percent of jail inmates Dependence Percent of jail Characteristic or abuse Other inmates inmates Depend- Homeless in past year 16.5% 9.1% ence or Other Characteristic abuse inmates Employed in month before Criminal justice admission to jail 71.1% 72.5% status at arrest None 42.5% 56.3% Ever physically or sexually abused 21.1% 12.5% Any status* 57.5 43.7 Physically abused 17.6 9.8 On parole 13.7 9.7 Sexually abused 9.0 5.2 On probation 36.3 27.8 On bail/bond 7.8 5.9 While growing up C Ever received public assistance* 40.8% 33.2% Criminal history Ever lived in foster home, agency No previous sentence 30.5% 54.0% or institution 13.9 6.6 Prior sentence 69.5 46.0 Violent recidivists 32.0 21.0 Lived most of the time with C Drug recidivists only 3.3 2.8 Both parents 42.1% 48.5% Other recidivists 34.2 22.2 One parent 46.4 40.3 Someone else 11.5 11.1 Number of prior probation/ Parents or guardians ever abused C 36.8% 17.4% Alcohol 23.6 11.8 incarceration Drugs 2.3 1.7 sentences 0 19.8% 41.4% Both alcohol and drugs 10.9 3.9 1 16.2 20.2 Neither 63.2 82.6 2 17.1 16.3 Family member ever incarcerated C 50.3% 37.9% 3-5 25.5 14.6 Mother 8.0 5.6 6-10 13.7 5.2 Father 20.7 13.9 11 or more 7.7 2.2 Brother 33.9 26.6 Sister 10.6 5.7 *Percentages add to more than total Spouse 2.1 1.4 because inmates may have had more than one status. Number of jail inmates 415,242 195,054 *Public assistance includes public housing, AFDC, food stamps, Medicaid, WIC, Substance dependent or abusing jail and other welfare programs. inmates were twice as likely as other jail inmates to have had a parent or abuse only (23%). All other age groups Half of inmates who met criteria of guardian who abused drugs or alcohol. had higher levels of substance depend- dependence or abuse had a family About 2 in 5 jail inmates who met the ence. Half of jail inmates ages 35-44 member who had served time criteria for substance dependence or were dependent on alcohol or drugs, abuse said a parent or guardian had while a fifth abused alcohol or drugs. Jail inmates who met the conditions for abused alcohol, drugs, or both while substance dependence or abuse (16%) they were growing up. Among other Substance dependence or abuse were more likely to have been home- inmates, about 1 in 6 said a parent more prevalent among drug or less in the year before their admission or guardian abused alcohol, drugs, property offenders to jail than other inmates (9%) (table or both. 3). They were twice as likely as other Overall, jail inmates whose most inmates to have lived in a foster home, Inmates who were dependent on or serious charge was a drug or property agency, or institution. An estimated abused alcohol or drugs (50%) were offense were more likely to have met 14% said they had lived in a foster more likely than other inmates (38%) the substance dependence or abuse home, agency, or institution, compared to have had a family member who had criteria than other offenders. More than to 7% of other inmates. been incarcerated. Twenty-one percent 70% of drug or property offenders were had a father who had been incarcer- dependent on or had abused a Over a fifth of jail inmates who met the ated in the past, compared to 14% of substance, compared to over 60% of criteria for substance dependence or other inmates. A third of inmates who violent and public-order offenders. An abuse said they had been physically or met the conditions for substance estimated half of drug or property sexually abused in the past. An eighth dependence or abuse had a brother offenders were dependent on alcohol of other jail inmates reported past who had served time in prison or jail, or drugs; over a fifth reported an abuse physical or sexual abuse. compared to over a fourth of other jail (without dependence) criterion. inmates.
4 Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 Prior criminal record linked to Table 5. Prior drug use of jail inmates, by type of drug, 2002 and 1996 substance dependence or abuse Percent of jail inmates who used drugs Convicted inmatesa Jail inmates who were dependent on or All inmates In the month At the time abused alcohol or drugs were more Ever Regularlyb before the offense of the offense likely to have had a prior criminal Type of drug 2002 1996 2002 1996 2002 1996 2002 1996 record than other inmates. Fifty-seven Any drug 82.2% 82.4% 68.7% 64.2% 54.6% 54.0% 28.8% 34.9% percent of the substance dependent or Marijuana or hashish 75.7% 78.2% 58.5% 54.9 37.5% 36.0% 13.6% 18.0% abusing inmates were on some crimi- Cocaine or crack 48.1 50.4 30.9 31.0 20.7 22.8 10.6 14.3 nal justice status at the time of their Heroin/opiates 20.7 23.9 12.0 11.8 7.8 7.9 4.1 5.1 Depressantsc 21.6 29.9 10.7 10.4 6.1 5.3 2.4 2.2 arrest, including 36% who were on Stimulantsd 27.8 33.6 17.1 16.5 11.4 9.6 5.2 5.6 probation (table 4). About 44% of other Hallucinogense 32.4 32.2 13.4 10.5 5.9 4.2 1.6 1.4 jail inmates were on a criminal justice Inhalants 12.7 16.8 4.2 4.8 1.0 0.9 0.2 0.3 a status at arrest. Includes all inmates with a current conviction or with a prior conviction, but no new conviction for the current charge. bUsed drugs at least once a week for at least a month. An estimated 8 in 10 jail inmates who cDepressants include barbiturates, tranquilizers, and quaaludes. d met the criteria for substance depend- Stimulants include amphetamines and methamphetamines. eHallucinogens include LSD, Ecstasy, and PCP. ence or abuse had a prior sentence to probation or incarceration, compared Regular drug use rose between 1996 Women and white inmates more to about 6 in 10 other jail inmates. The and 2002; use at offense declined likely to have used drugs at offense substance dependent or abusing inmates (47%) were also twice as likely While the overall percentage of jail Among convicted jail inmates, there as other inmates (22%) to have had inmates who reported having ever were significant differences in the type three or more prior probation or incar- used drugs remained stable (82%) of substances used at the time of the ceration sentences. between 1996 and 2002, regular drug offense and in the substances they use rose to 69% in 2002 from 64% in were dependent on or abused. About Alcohol use at offense declined 1996 (table 5). Regular use was 29% of convicted inmates said they between 1996 and 2002 defined as drug use at least once a had used drugs at the time of the week for at least a month. Among offense, compared to 33% who In 2002, 40% of all jail inmates said convicted jail inmates, drug use at the reported using alcohol (table 6). More they had participated in binge drinking time of the offense dropped to 29% than half of convicted jail inmates were in the past, unchanged from 1996. from 35% during that period. In each dependent on or abused drugs, while Binge drinking is defined as having year, over half of convicted jail inmates just under half were dependent on or consumed a fifth of liquor in a single said they had used drugs in the month abused alcohol. day, or the equivalent of 20 drinks, 3 before their offense. bottles of wine, or 3 six-packs of beer. Convicted women offenders were more There was little change in the types of likely to have been under the influence Percent of jail inmates drugs used between 1996 and 2002. of drugs (34%) than alcohol (22%) at Alcohol use 2002 1996 Ever use 85.4% 87.9% Marijuana and cocaine/crack cocaine the time of the offense. Over a third of Regular usea 66.0 66.3 were the most common drugs inmates convicted men said they had used Binge drinkingb 39.9 40.3 said they used regularly, in the month alcohol at the time of the offense, At time of offensec 33.4 40.5 before the offense, or at the time of the compared to over a fourth who had aDrank alcohol at least once a week for a month, or drank daily or at least once a week offense. About 59% of all jail inmates used drugs. during the year before the offense. said they used marijuana regularly, up bBinge drinking means having consumed a fifth from 55% in 1996. In each year, the Both male and female jail inmates of liquor in a single day, or the equivalent of 20 drinks, 3 bottles of wine, or 3 six-packs of beer. fraction of inmates who said they were more likely to have met the condi- cConvicted inmates only. regularly used cocaine/crack (31%), tions for dependence or abuse of drugs heroin/other opiates (12%), depres- than alcohol. However, women were The proportion of convicted inmates sants (10%), and stimulants (17%) significantly more likely to have met the who had been drinking at the time of was relatively unchanged. criteria for dependence or abuse of the offense declined to 33% in 2002, drugs (61%) than alcohol (39%). By from 41% in 1996. Nearly 14% of convicted jail inmates contrast, men were only slightly more had used marijuana at the time of the likely to have met the criteria for offense in 2002, a slight decrease from dependence or abuse of drugs (54%) 18% in 1996. Eleven percent had used than alcohol (50%). cocaine/crack in 2002, down from 14% in 1996.
Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 5 Among convicted inmates considered Jail inmates age 24 or younger had the Over half of inmates convicted of by race or ethnic origin, white inmates highest rate of drug dependence or robbery, burglary, or drug offenses had the highest rate of having used abuse. About 61% were dependent on were under the influence at offense either drugs or alcohol at the time of or abused drugs, compared to about their most serious offense. About 39% 56% of jail inmates ages 25-44. Similar Overall, 50% of convicted jail inmates of white inmates had used alcohol at to alcohol dependence or abuse, the reported being under the influence of the time of the offense, followed by lowest rate of drug dependence or alcohol or drugs at the time of the 30% of Hispanic and 29% of black abuse (16%) occurred among inmates offense (table 7). Inmates convicted of inmates. A third of white inmates and a age 55 or older. robbery (56%), weapons violations fourth of black and Hispanic inmates were under the influence of drugs at Table 6. Prior alcohol or drug use and dependence or abuse among convicted the time of the offense. jail inmates, by selected characteristics, 2002 Percent of convicted jail inmates — White inmates also had the highest Estimated Using at the time Meeting dependence prevalence of dependence or abuse number of of offense or abuse criteria Characteristic inmates Alcohol Drugs Alcohol Drugs regardless of the substance. About 59% of whites, 43% of blacks, and All inmates 444,534 33.4% 28.8% 49.0% 55.3% 42% of Hispanic inmates were depend- Gender ent on or abused alcohol. The rate of Male 391,809 34.9% 28.0% 50.3% 54.4% dependence or abuse for drugs was Female 52,725 22.2 34.4 39.2 61.3 62% for whites, 54% for blacks, and Race/Hispanic origin a 45% for Hispanic inmates. White 168,613 38.5% 33.2% 58.6% 62.2% Blacka 172,186 29.3 27.3 42.7 53.9 Hispanic 80,157 30.1 23.8 41.8 45.0 Younger inmates had higher rates of Otherb 22,308 36.9 24.1 52.6 50.2 dependence or abuse of drugs; Age middle-age inmates, of alcohol 24 or younger 129,726 24.2% 31.5% 45.5% 60.7% 25-34 142,174 33.3 31.0 51.6 56.5 35-44 118,680 40.1 28.5 52.3 55.6 Older offenders were most likely to 45-54 45,445 40.9 19.3 44.2 41.8 have used alcohol at the time of the 55 or older 8,509 40.5 5.5 38.5 16.4 offense. Forty percent of inmates age aExcludes persons of Hispanic origin 35 or older had used alcohol at the bIncludes Asians, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, time of the offense, compared to 33% other Pacific Islanders, and inmates who specified more than one race. of inmates ages 25-34 and 24% of inmates age 24 or younger. Nearly a Table 7. Prior alcohol or drug use at time of offense among convicted jail third of offenders age 34 or younger inmates, by type of offense, 2002 had used drugs at the time of their Estimated Used at time of offense offense. Only a small portion (6%) of number of inmates age 55 or older had used Most serious offense inmates Alcohol Drugs Alcohol or drugs drugs when they committed their Totala 440,570 33.3% 28.8% 49.7% offense. Violent offenses 96,359 37.6 21.8% 47.2% Homicide 5,967 41.6 20.0 47.4 Fifty-two percent of convicted inmates Sexual assaultb 13,252 37.2 13.5 42.2 Robbery 18,826 37.6 39.9 55.8 ages 25-34 and 35-44 were found to Assault 50,226 39.7 18.2 47.5 be dependent on or to abuse alcohol, the largest percentage among all age Property offenses 112,895 28.5% 32.5% 46.8% Burglary 29,767 32.6 40.8 55.1 categories. Inmates age 55 or older Larceny/theft 33,691 29.0 32.0 47.3 had the lowest rate of alcohol depend- Motor vehicle theft 9,414 35.4 39.8 54.5 ence or abuse (38%), followed by Fraud 22,817 21.5 27.9 38.6 inmates ages 45-54, at 44%, and Drug offenses 112,447 22.4% 43.2% 51.7% inmates age 24 or younger, at 46%. Possession 48,823 19.9 45.9 51.4 Trafficking 56,574 24.8 40.7 51.8
Public-order offenses 83,193 26.2% 19.5% 37.0% Weapons 9,218 35.3 36.8 55.7 Other public-orderc 73,975 25.1 17.4 34.6 aIncludes offenses not shown. bIncludes rape and other sexual assault. cExcludes DWI/DUI.
6 Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 (56%), burglary (55%), or motor vehicle Table 8. Substance dependence or abuse among convicted jail inmates, by type theft (55%) were more likely than of substance and offense, 2002 inmates convicted of other types of Estimated Percent dependent or abusing — offenses to have used a substance at number of the time of the offense. The least likely Most serious offense inmates Alcohol Drugs Alcohol or drugs of all offenders to have used alcohol or Totala 440,570 48.9% 55.3% 70.9% drugs at offense were those convicted Violent offenses 96,359 52.0% 47.9% 66.9% of public-order offenses (37%) or Homicide 5,967 46.1 30.4 56.2 fraud (39%). Sexual assaultb 13,252 37.2 32.6 49.6 Robbery 18,826 52.6 63.9 74.2 Assault 50,226 57.8 50.5 71.8 Violent offenders were more likely to have used alcohol at the time of the Property offenses 112,895 48.4% 61.8% 72.8% Burglary 29,767 54.1 74.0 84.7 offense (38%) than inmates who Larceny/theft 33,691 49.3 59.1 71.1 committed property (29%), drug (22%), Motor vehicle theft 9,414 46.5 60.9 70.3 or public-order offenses (26%). Fraud 22,817 42.6 53.2 63.1 However, violent offenders were less Drug offenses 112,447 40.1% 66.6% 73.0% likely than other offenders to have used Possession 48,823 40.5 71.2 75.3 Trafficking 56,574 40.1 61.4 70.0 drugs at the time of the offense. About a fifth of violent offenders, a third of Public-order offenses 83,193 45.8% 48.2% 65.6% property, and two-fifths of drug offend- Weapons 9,218 47.6 60.8 78.8 Other public-order 73,975 45.6 46.7 64.0 ers had used drugs at the time of the offense. Less than a fifth of public- DWI/DUI 35,676 78.1% 36.2% 81.5% order offenders used drugs at offense. aIncludes offenses not shown. bIncludes rape and other sexual assault. 16% of convicted jail inmates Three-quarters of inmates in jail offenders. Drug offenders (40%) were committed the offense to get for drug or property offenses met least likely to be dependent on or to money for drugs dependence or abuse criteria abuse alcohol. In 2002, 16% of convicted jail inmates Seven in ten convicted jail inmates By specific offenses, DWI/DUI offend- said they committed their offense to get were found to be dependent on or to ers were the most likely to have met money for drugs, a slight increase from abuse alcohol or drugs, a slightly larger the criteria for alcohol dependence 15% in 1996. Around a quarter of proportion than the 6 in 10 of the entire or abuse (78%), followed by inmates property and drug offenders said they jail population (table 8). Overall, convicted of assault (58%), burglary committed their offense to get money substance dependence or abuse was (54%), and robbery (53%). Jail inmates for drugs, compared to under a tenth more prevalent among convicted drug who committed sexual assault (37%) of violent and public-order offenders. and property offenders. Nearly three- were the least likely of the different Percent of convicted inmates quarters of inmates in jail for drug or types of offenders to be dependent who committed offense to property offenses met the criteria for on or to abuse alcohol. get money for drugs substance dependence or abuse, Most serious offense 2002 1996a compared to two-thirds of jail inmates The highest percentage of drug Totalb 16.4% 15.1% who committed violent or public-order dependence or abuse occurred among Violent 8.0 8.2 offenses. drug offenders, with 67% meeting the Property 26.9 24.5 conditions for dependence or abuse. Drug 24.8 22.8 Public-order 5.2 3.4 Jail inmates convicted of burglary had Property offenders were next with 62% aPercentages have been revised from those the highest rate of substance depend- having met the conditions. previously published. ence or abuse (85%), followed by b Includes offenses not shown. DWI/DUI (81%), weapons violations Specifically, jail inmates convicted Between 1996 and 2002, the propor- (79%), and drug possession (75%). of burglary (74%), drug possession tion of drug, property, and public-order The lowest rate of substance depend- (71%), and robbery (64%) had the offenders who said they committed ence or abuse was among inmates highest rates of drug dependence their offense to get money for drugs convicted of sexual assault (50%). or abuse. Offenders convicted of increased by two percentage points, homicide (30%) and sexual assault while that of violent offenders was Convicted violent offenders were the (33%) were least likely to be dependent relatively unchanged. most likely to be dependent on or on or to abuse drugs. abusing alcohol (52%), followed by property (48%), and public-order (46%)
Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 7 6 in 10 substance dependent or Table 9. Substance use treatment or programs among jail inmates abusing inmates had participated in who met the criteria for substance dependence or abuse, 2002 substance treatment or programs Percent of inmates meeting criteria for substance — Dependence Sixty-three percent of jail inmates who Type of treatment or programs Dependence Abuse only or abuse met the criteria for substance depend- Ever in treatment or programs 67.9% 52.2% 62.6% ence or abuse said they had partici- Treatmenta 50.3% 30.6% 43.7% pated in substance treatment or other Other substance abuse programsb 49.2 38.6 45.6 alcohol or drug programs in the past. Participated while under correctional supervisionc 52.8% 36.6% 47.4% Percent of jail inmates who Substance had ever participated in Treatmenta 34.9% 19.2% 29.6% dependence substance abuse treatment In prison/jail 19.8 11.1 16.9 or abuse or other programs On probation/parole 26.6 14.2 22.4
Alcohol or drugs 62.6% b Alcohol 64.8 Other programs 39.5% 28.3% 35.7% Drugs 64.0 In prison/jail 27.4 16.7 23.8 On probation/parole 28.9 19.9 25.8 Estimated number of inmates 275,712 139,530 415,242 The most common activity among Note: Detail adds to more than total because inmates may have participated in more dependent or abusing inmates was than one type of substance abuse treatment or other program. a participation in alcohol or drug Treatment is defined as substance care received under the supervision of a trained professional, including treatment in a special residential facility, professional counseling, programs which included self-help detoxification unit, or use of a maintenance drug. programs (such as Alcoholics Anony- bOther programs included self-help and education/awareness programs. c mous or Narcotics Anonymous), peer Includes inmates who had participated in treatment or other programs after admission. counseling, or education or awareness Dependent inmates (53%) were more Participation in treatment or other programs. Forty-six percent of depend- likely to have participated in treatment programs while under correctional ent or abusing inmates had partici- or programs while under correctional supervision rose between 1996 and pated in these programs, compared to supervision than inmates who abused 2002 44% who had received treatment (table alcohol or drugs (37%). Over a third of 9). Substance treatment included time dependent inmates had received treat- The largest increase in substance spent in a residential facility or a detoxi- ment while incarcerated or on proba- treatment or other programs occurred fication unit, professional counseling, tion or parole. Nearly a fifth of inmates among inmates who said they had or use of a maintenance drug. who abused alcohol or drugs had used alcohol or drugs at the time of received treatment. Forty percent of offense — up from 43% in 1996 to Participation in substance treatment dependent and 28% of abusing 52% in 2002 (table 10). Among or programs linked to dependence inmates reported they had participated inmates who had been using alcohol in other alcohol or drug programs while or drugs in the month before the Jail inmates who were dependent on under correctional supervision. offense, the proportion who reported alcohol or drugs had the highest rate of ever having participated in treatment participation in substance treatment or Regardless of a diagnosis of depend- or programs while under correctional other alcohol or drug programs. Over ence or abuse, inmates were more supervision rose from 39% in 1996 two-thirds of dependent inmates said likely to have received treatment or to 47% in 2002. they had participated in treatment or participated in program while on proba- programs in the past, compared to tion or parole rather than in prison or Participation in treatment or other over half of inmates who abused drugs jail. Over 1 in 4 dependent inmates had programs after admission to jail also or alcohol. received treatment while in the increased among all prior alcohol or community, and 1 in 5 had treatment drug users. In 2002, 20% of convicted while incarcerated. inmates who were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the offense had participated in treatment/ programs after entering jail, up from 17% in 1996. In each year, participa- tion in self-help programs (13%) was the most common activity, followed by education programs (over 5%).
8 Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 The rate of participation in treatment or 1 in 5 inmates who used drugs of drug users (table 12). About 14% of programs since entering jail for at time of the offense participated convicted inmates who reported past convicted inmates who used alcohol or in treatment or programs after drug use ever, 17% of those who used drugs in the month before the offense admission drugs in the month before the offense, rose to 17% in 2002, up from 14% in and 18% of inmates who met the 1996. Treatment specifically rose from A fifth of convicted jail inmates who conditions for drug dependence or 4% to 6% between 1996 to 2002, and reported drug use at the time of their abuse had received treatment or participation in other programs grew offense had participated in treatment or participated in other programs after from 13% to 14%, respectively. programs after admission to jail, a entering jail. larger proportion than any other group 1 in 6 inmates using alcohol at the time of the offense participated in Table 10. Substance treatment or programs under correctional supervision treatment/programs after admission among convicted jail inmates who used alcohol or drugs, 2002 and 1996 Percent of convicted inmates reporting prior substance use — In 2002 an estimated 17% of jail In the month At the time of inmates who ever participated in binge Ever regularly before the offense the offense drinking and inmates who met the Type of treatment or programs 2002 1996 2002 1996 2002 1996 criteria for alcohol dependence or Ever under correctional abuse had received treatment or supervision 47.3% 38.8% 46.9% 39.0% 52.1% 43.0% participated in other programs after Participated after admission to jail (table 11). Around admission 17.3% 14.4% 16.9% 14.4% 19.9% 17.0% 16% of inmates using alcohol at the Treatment 6.2% 4.2% 6.0% 4.2% 7.5% 5.3% time of the offense had participated Residential facility or unit 3.4 2.2 3.3 2.4 4.0 2.9 Counseling by a professional 2.5 1.6 2.4 1.6 3.1 1.9 in treatment or programs after admis- Detoxification unit 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.2 sion. Other programs 13.9% 12.8% 13.6% 12.8% 15.7% 15.1% Self-help group The level of participation in specific or peer counseling 11.2 10.8 10.9 10.8 12.8 12.8 types of substance abuse treatment or Education 5.5 4.6 5.4 4.6 6.2 5.4 programs varied little among inmates Estimated number who were dependent on or abused of inmates 375,730 296,580 297,636 277,787 216,014 190,103 alcohol, who had used alcohol at the Note: Detail adds to more than total because inmates may have participated time of the offense, or who reported in more than one type of substance abuse treatment or other program. ever having a binge drinking experi- ence. Three percent of inmates in each category had received treatment in a Table 11. Alcohol treatment or programs following admission of convicted special facility after admission. inmates who used alcohol or met alcohol dependence or abuse criteria, 2002 Between 2% and 3% had also received Prior alcohol use — Alcohol professional counseling and 1% had Type of alcohol treatment or Convicted Ever binge Using alcohol dependence or been in a detoxification unit. programs after admission inmates drinking* at offense abuse Any alcohol treatment or Twelve percent of inmates who program 10.9% 17.4% 16.4% 16.8% reported binge drinking had partici- Treatment 3.6% 5.9% 5.9% 5.6% pated in self-help or peer counseling, Residential facility or unit 2.0 2.9 2.8 3.0 followed by 11% of inmates who met Professional counseling 1.4 2.7 2.6 2.4 the criteria for alcohol dependence or Detoxification unit 0.5 1.1 1.0 0.9 abuse, and 10% of inmates who were Other programs 9.0% 14.1% 12.7% 13.6% using alcohol at the time of the offense. Self-help group or peer Around 5% of each group had partici- counseling 7.2 11.7 10.2 11.1 Education 3.8 5.4 5.3 5.6 pated in alcohol abuse education or awareness programs. Estimated number of inmates 439,473 181,728 144,596 212,535 *Binge drinking is defined as having consumed as much as a fifth of liquor in a single day, equivalent to 20 drinks, 3 bottles of wine, or as many as 3 six-packs of beer.
Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 9 Self-help or peer group counseling and Around 9% of convicted inmates who Substance dependent or abusing placement in a residential unit or used drugs at the time of the offense women, whites more likely to special facility were the most common had received treatment in a special unit participate in treatment or programs types of activities. More than 11% of or residential facility since entering jail. convicted inmates who had used drugs Nearly 7% of inmates who reported Female inmates (68%) who met the in the month before the offense, at the drug use in the month before the criteria for substance dependence or time of the offense, or met the drug offense and those dependent on or abuse were more likely than male dependence or abuse criteria had abusing drugs had treatment in a inmates (64%) to have ever received participated in self-help or peer group special unit or facility. any type of substance treatment or counseling programs. program (table 13). This pattern contin- ued across all types of treatment or programs. Fifty-three percent of Table 12. Drug treatment or programs after admission among convicted jail inmates who used drugs or met drug dependence or abuse criteria, 2002 women who met substance depend- ence or abuse criteria had received Prior drug use — Drug some type of treatment, compared to Type of drug treatment or Ever in In the month At the time of dependence 44% of men. programs after admission the past before offense offense or abuse
Any drug treatment or program 13.8% 17.5% 21.0% 17.9% 8 in 10 convicted jail inmates were Treatment 5.1% 6.5% 8.4% 6.9% involved with drugs/alcohol in 2002 Residential facility or unit 2.9 3.6 5.1 3.9 Professional counseling 2.0 2.6 3.2 2.9 $ In the comparable data for 1996 and Detoxification unit 0.5 0.7 0.8 0.6 2002, three-quarters of convicted jail Maintenance drug 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 inmates were involved with drugs or Other programs 10.9% 13.8% 16.2% 14.0% alcohol. When substance dependence Self-help group or peer or abuse and positive drug test results counseling 8.2 10.6 13.0 11.0 were included in 2002, 85% of con- Education 4.8 5.8 6.7 6.0 victed jail inmates were found to be drug/alcohol-involved. Estimated number of inmates 370,348 236,517 124,717 239,485 Percent of convicted jail inmates involved Table 13. Substance treatment or programs ever or under correctional with drugs/ supervision among convicted jail inmates who met substance dependence alcohol or abuse criteria, by gender and race, 2002 2002 1996 Any current drug offense 31.0% 27.8% Percent of substance dependent or abusing inmates — Any current DWI/DUI 9.7 10.7 Type of treatment or programs Male Female White Black Hispanic Alcohol/drug use at offense 49.7 58.8
Ever in treatment or program 63.9% 68.1% 72.5% 57.9% 58.0% Ever commit crime to get money for drugs 16.4 15.1 Treatment 44.4 53.1 55.5 38.9 34.8 Drug use in month before Other programs 47.0 51.0 54.7 40.8 44.1 offense 54.6 54.0 Participated while under Daily use of alcohol in correctional supervision 50.5% 56.0% 57.9% 44.6% 48.1% year before admission 34.4 36.7 Treatment 31.8 38.8 39.9 27.3 27.0 Drug/alcohol-involved 77.8% 77.3% Other programs 38.2 42.6 45.5 31.9 36.9 Positive drug test at arrest After admission or after admission* 29.0 / Treatment 6.7 9.1 9.2 5.0 5.2 Abused drugs or alcohol 22.9 / Other programs 14.5 22.5 18.2 13.2 12.6 Dependent on drugs or alcohol 45.2 / Ever while in prison or jail Treatment 17.7 20.6 22.9 15.7 12.1 Drug/alcohol-involved 84.7% -- Other programs 24.5 30.4 29.7 22.0 21.0 Note: Percentages add to more than 100% because inmates may have had more than Ever while on probation or parole one type of involvement. Treatment 24.6 31.0 32.3 19.6 21.1 /Not reported. Other programs 28.5 31.4 36.6 21.2 26.6 --Not calculated. *Based on inmates tested for drugs only. Estimated number of inmates 267,646 36,873 130,294 110,710 47,004
10 Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 White jail inmates (72%) who were in which jails were selected at the first estimates to counts of jail inmates found to be dependent on or to abuse stage and inmates to be interviewed obtained from the 1999 Census of Jails alcohol or drugs had the highest rate of at the second stage. The jails were and the 2001 Annual Survey of Jails. participation in treatment or other selected from a universe of 3,365 jails programs, followed by 58% of both and grouped into 6 strata based on the The accuracy of the jail inmates survey blacks and Hispanics. size of the male, female, and juvenile depends on sampling and measure- (both male and female) populations. ment errors. Sampling errors occur by Four in ten white inmates who met the Each jail within a stratum had an equal chance because a sample rather than conditions for dependence or abuse probability of selection. a complete enumeration of the popula- had received treatment under correc- tion was conducted. Measurement tional supervision, compared to fewer Overall, 465 jails were selected, and error can be attributed to many than 3 in 10 black and Hispanic interviews were held in 417 jails; 39 sources, such as nonresponse, recall inmates. White inmates (23%) were jails refused or were excluded for difficulties, differences in the interpreta- also nearly twice as likely as Hispanic administrative reasons; and 9 were tion of questions among inmates, and inmates (12%) to have received treat- closed or had no inmates. data processing errors. ment in prison or jail. In the second sampling stage, inter- The sampling error, as measured by Forty-five percent of white inmates who viewers from the Census Bureau an estimated standard error, varies by met the criteria for substance depend- visited each selected facility and the size of the estimate and the size of ence or abuse had participated in other systematically selected a sample of the base population. Estimates of the alcohol or drug programs while under male and female inmates. A total of standard errors for selected character- correctional supervision, compared to 6,982 inmates were interviewed, using istics have been calculated for the 37% of Hispanics and 32% of black computer-assisted personal interview- 2002 Survey. Standard error tables are inmates who met the criteria. White ing (CAPI). A total of 768 inmates available on the BJS website inmates also had the highest level of refused to participate, for a second
In this report, the definition of a con- References victed jail inmate differs from other Allen, John P., and Veronica B. Wilson, eds., Assessing Alcohol Problems: A Guide previously published reports. Trend for Clinicians and Researchers, 2nd ed., U. S. Department of Health and Human comparisons between data in this Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol, Abuse and report and reports based on data from Alcoholism, revised 2003, Bethesda, Maryland. previous jail inmate surveys (or the Annual Survey of Jails) are affected by American Psychological Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental the revised definition of convicted and Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV), 1994. unconvicted inmates. Other revisions Compton, Wilson M., and others, "Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the to the questionnaire will also affect United States, 1991-1992 and 2001-2002," Journal of the American Medical comparisons across surveys. Association, May 5, 2002, vol. 291, no.17.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, Rockville, Maryland.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, 2002, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland.
Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002 11 U.S. Department of Justice *NCJ 209588* Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics
Washington, DC 20531
Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300
The 2002 SILJ is the first BJS survey The Bureau of Justice Statistics ment of Commerce, carried out to measure the prevalence of is the statistical agency of the questionnaire design and monitored substance dependence or abuse in the U.S. Department of Justice. data collection and processing under correctional population based on the Lawrence A. Greenfeld is director. the supervision of Marilyn M. DSM-IV. These estimates are not Monahan and Gertrude Odom. comparable to findings reported from Jennifer C. Karberg and Doris J. previous jail inmate surveys. James wrote this report, under the Bridget F. Grant, Ph.D., assisted BJS supervision of Allen J. Beck. Laura M. in the development of the inmate Other national surveys that used the Maruschak and Todd D. Minton survey questions associated with the DSM-IV to measure substance verified the report, and Rebecca DSM-IV criteria for measuring abuse and dependence in the general Medway provided statistical assis- dependence or abuse. Dr. Grant is population include the National Epide- tance. Tom Hester edited it, assisted Chief of Laboratory of Epidemiology miological Survey of Alcohol and by Tina Dorsey. and Biometry, Division of Intramural Related Conditions, 2002, (NESARC), Clinical and Biological Research, sponsored by the National Institute on Doris J. James, under the supervision National Institute on Alcohol Abuse Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the of Allen J. Beck, designed the survey, and Alcoholism, National Institutes of National Survey on Drug Use and developed the questionnaire, and Health, Department of Health and Health, 2002, (NSDUH), SAMSHA. monitored data collection, data Human Services. processing, and production of weights. July 2005, NCJ 209588 Stephen M. Bittner and Tammy Anderson, Demographic Surveys Office of Justice Programs Division, Census Bureau, U.S. Depart- Partnerships for Safer Communities http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
12 Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002