A comparison of substance use between female inmates and female substance misusers in treatment

Recent literature documents extensive substance misuse histories among US f emale prison inmates. The primary purpose of the present study was to deter mine whether histories of personal and familial substance misuse distinguis hed female inmates from substance misusers in treatment. After accounting f or drug-related offences, we hypothesized that the inmates would have more extensive histories of personal and familial substance misuse and that they would have initiated substance use at an earlier age. Contrary to our expe ctations, the two samples were similar on many measures of alcohol and drug use. Similarly, differences in family histories of substance misuse were n or in the predicted direction. As hypothesized, however. the inmates did re port earlier age at onset of drinking. Of particular clinical relevance was the finding thar despite similar alcohol consumption levels, inmates repor ted fewer alcohol-related adverse medical, legal, and psychosocial conseque nces than did the treatment sample.