Substance misuse as a marker of vulnerability among male prisoners on remand.

BACKGROUND

More treatment for substance misuse should be provided within prisons.

AIMS: To examine differences between prisoners on remand with substance misuse problems and other prisoners on remand.

METHOD: Random selection and interview of unconvicted male prisoners (n = 750, a 9.4% sample), plus examination of the prison medical record.

RESULTS

Of the sample of 750, 253 subjects (33.7%) reported either drug- or alcohol-related health problems or dependency. Compared with other prisoners on remand, they reported more childhood adversity, conduct disorder, self-harm, past psychiatric treatment and current mood disorder, and had fewer qualifications, were more likely to be unemployed and have more housing difficulties.

CONCLUSIONS

One-third of unconvicted men in prison report substance-related problems, and these are a marker for vulnerability within a disadvantaged population. Health care providers should involve this group in treatment and rehabilitation, both inside prison and following release.