title: Alcohol and substance screening and brief intervention for detainees kept in police custody. A feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Screening and brief intervention programs related to addictive disorders have proven effective in a variety of environments. Both the feasibility and outcome of brief interventions performed in police custody by forensic physicians are unknown. Our objectives were to characterize addictive behaviors in detainees and to evaluate the feasibility of a brief intervention at the time of the medical examination in police custody.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 1000 detainees in police custody who were examined by a physician for the assessment of fitness for detention. We used a standardized questionnaire and collected data concerning individual characteristics, addictive disorders, and reported assaults or observed injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  944 men and 56 women (94-6%) were studied. We found an addictive disorder in 708 of 1000 cases (71%), with the use of tobacco (62%), alcohol (36%), cannabis (35%), opiates (5%), and cocaine (4%) being the most common. A brief intervention was performed in 544 of these 708 cases (77%). A total of 139 of the 708 individuals (20%) expressed a willingness to change and 14 of 708 (2%) requested some information on treatment options. The main reasons why brief interventions were not performed were aggressive behaviors, drowsiness, or fanciful statements by the detainee.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brief interventions and screening for addictive behaviors in police custody are feasible in the majority of cases. The frequent link between addictive behaviors and the suspected crimes highlights the value of such interventions, which could be incorporated into the public health mission of the physician in police custody.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), F-93140 Bondy, France; Department of Addiction Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), F-93140 Bondy, France; Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Enjeux Sociaux (IRIS), UMR 8156-997, UFR SMBH, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris 13, France. Electronic address: patrick.chariot@jvr.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chariot
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), F-93140 Bondy, France.
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lepresle
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), F-93140 Bondy, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), F-93140 Bondy, France.
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boraud
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), F-93140 Bondy, France.
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barthès
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), F-93140 Bondy, France; Department of Addiction Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), F-93140 Bondy, France.
authors.forename: Menouar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tedlaouti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology; D016495:Police; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol abuse; Brief intervention; Cannabis; Police custody; Screening; Tobacco