title: Alcohol problems in a remand Scottish prisoner population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcohol misuse is internationally recognised as a major public health problem. The link between alcohol and crime is strong and offenders have a higher prevalence of alcohol problems when compared with the general population. Alcohol-related crime is estimated to cost the Scottish economy over £700 m per annum. The purpose of this paper is to measure the nature and prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) in adult male prisoners on remand in a prison in Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) screening tool, all new remand prisoners were screened over a two week period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of alcohol problems within the sample was high: 73 per cent of the sample was identified with an AUD, with 43 per cent with scores indicating possible alcohol dependence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to focus solely on a remand prisoner population and the results show high levels of need. The criminal justice setting is ideally placed to identify and treat alcohol problems in this hard to reach population.
authors.affiliation: Associate Specialist, Public Health, at Information Services Division, National Services Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heller-Murphy
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McAuley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D000066479:Criminal Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AUDIT; Alcohol dependence; Alcohol problems; Alcohol use disorder; Alcoholism; Men; Prisoner health; Prisons; Scotland