Alcohol dependence: international policy implications for prison populations.
BACKGROUND
In light of the emphasis on drug abuse, this study explored the relative prevalence of substance use disorders among United Kingdom (UK) prison inmates in the context of findings from a general inmate population in the United States (US). The lead author of the report conducted a structured diagnostic interview with 155 new admissions to one of two prisons in the UK using the CAAPE (Comprehensive Addiction And Psychological Evaluation), a structured diagnostic interview, to ensure consistent assessments. The US sample consisted of 6,881 male inmates in a state prison system evaluated with an automated version of the SUDDS-IV (Substance Use Disorder Diagnostic Schedule-IV) interview.


RESULTS
Alcohol dependence emerged as the most prevalent substance use disorder in both UK prisons and in the US sample. Relative frequencies of abuse and dependence for alcohol and other drugs revealed that dependence on a given substance was more prevalent than abuse ad defined by the current diagnostic criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the emphasis on drugs in correctional populations, alcohol dependence appears to be the most prominent substance use disorder among the incarcerated in both the US and UK and must be considered in developing treatment programs and policy priorities.
Jones
Gail Yvonne
GY
Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust U.K., 39 Wellington Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, 0X9 3BW, UK. GailYvonneJones@aol.com
Hoffmann
Norman G
NG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult