In the dozen years since the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse released its first report on substance abuse among the nation’s prison population, no progress has been made in reducing the numbers of inmates with substance abuse problems crowding the nation’s prisons and jails, according to a new report. In fact, 65 percent of the nation’s inmates meet certain medical criteria for substance abuse and addiction, but only 11 percent received treatment for their addictions.
Released in February, the center’s second report on the topic found that of the 2.3 million U.S. inmates, 1.5 million suffer from substance abuse addiction and another 458,000 inmates either had histories of substance abuse, were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of committing their crimes; committed their offenses to get money to buy drugs; were incarcerated for an alcohol or drug violation. Combined, the two groups make up 85 percent of the U.S. prison population, according to the report, “Behind Bars II, Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population.”
The report also found that alcohol and other drugs are significant factors in all crimes, including 78 percent of violent crimes, 83 percent of property crimes and 77 percent of public order, immigration or weapons offenses as well as probation and parole violations.
Calling the nation’s current prison policies “inane and inhuman,” Joseph Califano Jr., chair and president of the Columbia University-based National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, said that despite increased recognition of the problem and its potential solutions, the nation has made no progress in reducing the number of inmates with substance abuse problems crowding prisons and jails.
“The United States has less than five percent of the world’s population and we consume two-thirds of the world’s illegal drugs and incarcerate almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners, more than eight of 10 of whom have some substance involvement,” said Califano, who served as U.S. health secretary from 1977 to 1979.
The report also found that, compared to inmates who do not suffer with substance abuse issues, inmates with substance abuse problems are more likely to be incarcerated again, begin their criminal careers at an early age and have more contacts with the criminal justice system. Additionally, inmates with substance abuse problems are four times more likely to receive income through illegal activities and twice as likely to have had at least one parent who abused alcohol or other drugs.
The report found that only 11 percent of inmates with substance abuse and addiction disorders receive any treatment during their incarcerations. However, if all inmates in need of treatment received such services, the nation would see economic benefits in just one year — even if only 10 percent of the inmates treated remained sober, crime-free and employed, the report found. For each inmate who remained sober, employed and crime-free, the nation would save $91,000 per year, the report found.
According to the report, federal, state and local governments spent $74 billion on incarceration, court proceedings, probation and parole for adults with substance abuse problems and juvenile offenders in 2005, but less than 1 percent of that amount, or $632 million, was spent on prevention and treatment.
“States complain mightily about their rising prison costs, yet they continue to hemorrhage public funds that could be saved if they provided treatment to inmates with alcohol and other drug problems and stepped up use of drug courts and prosecutorial drug treatment alternative programs,” said Susan E. Foster, vice president and director of policy research and analysis at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
Specific recommendations in the report for reducing the number of inmates with substance abuse problems, improving their health and reducing crime include using trained health care professionals to screen, assess and treat substance-involved offenders; providing care for co-occurring physical and mental health problems; providing comprehensive pre-release planning and after-care to continue treatment services for inmates with substance-use disorders; requiring addiction treatment for inmates; expanding the use of treatment-based alternatives to jail and prison; and requiring accreditation for prison and jail-based treatment programs and providers.
The full report, “Behind Bars II, Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population,” is available at www.casacolumbia.org.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
