Rh. Peters et al., PREVALENCE OF DSM-IV SUBSTANCE-ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE DISORDERS AMONG PRISON-INMATES, The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 24(4), 1998, pp. 573-587
The study examined the 30-day and lifetime prevalence of DSM-IV alcoho
l and drug disorders among state prison inmates. A sample of 400 inmat
es consecutively admitted to a state prison reception center were asse
ssed for alcohol and drug disorders using the Structured Clinical Inte
rview for DSM-IV (SCID-TV). Test-retest reliabilities were calculated
for thr SCID-IV. Lifetime substance abuse or dependence disorders were
detected among 74% of inmates, including over half who were dependent
on alcohol or drugs. For the 30 days prior to incarceration, over hal
f of the sample were diagnosed as having substance abuse or dependence
disorders, including 46% who were dependent on alcohol or drugs. Blac
k inmates were significantly less Likely to be diagnosed as alcohol de
pendent than whites or Hispanics. The high rates of substance use diso
rders are consistent with previous findings from other studies conduct
ed in correctional settings and reflect the need to expand treatment c
apacity in prisons.