title: Predictors of Illicit Drug Use Among Prisoners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The United States of America currently has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and approximately 80% of incarcerated individuals have a history of illicit drug use. Despite institutional prohibitions, drug use continues in prison, and is associated with a range of negative outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between prison drug use, duration of incarceration, and a range of covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants self-reported a history of illicit drug use (77.5%). Seven percent reportedly used drugs during the previous six months of incarceration (n = 100). Participants who had been incarcerated for more than a year were less likely than those incarcerated for longer than a year to report using drugs (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.26-0.98). Participants aged 37-89 were less likely than younger prisoners to use drugs (OR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.19-0.80). Heroin users were twice as likely as nonheroin users to use drugs (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.04-5.03); crack cocaine users were also twice as likely as participants with no history of crack cocaine usage to report drug use (OR = 2.53; 95% CI = 1.13-5.69).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correctional institutions should be used as a resource to offer evidence-based services to curb drug usage. Drug treatment programs for younger prisoners, heroin and crack cocaine users, and at the beginning of a prisoner's sentence should be considered for this population.
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , Columbia University , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Tawandra L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Rowell-Cunsolo
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , Columbia University , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sampong
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , Columbia University , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Montina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Befus
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , Columbia University , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Dhritiman V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , Columbia University , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Elaine L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons; D011998:Recreation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine; D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Prison; drug use; incarceration