Substance-use disorders and psychological distress among police arrestees.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the 12-month prevalence of substance-use disorders and psychological morbidity in an Australian arrestee population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional descriptive study.


METHODS
288 police arrestees at the Brisbane City Police Watch House in February and March 2001.


METHODS
Prevalence of drug and alcohol disorders; psychological "caseness" according to the 28-item General Health Questionnaire; demographics and index offences.


RESULTS
86% of the arrestees had at least one substance-use disorder; most had multiple disorders. More than 80% were substance dependent. The predominant substances used were amphetamines, marijuana, opioids and alcohol. 82% of the men and 94% of the women were suffering significant psychological distress.


CONCLUSIONS
Development of services for detoxification and treatment of this population is a pressing need. The findings provide crucial information for the planning and implementation of drug courts and court diversion systems.
Heffernan
Edward B
EB
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Bribane Hospital, QLD. edward.heffernan@dhs.vic.gov.au
Finn
Joe
J
Saunders
John B
JB
Byrne
Gerard
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*