DRUG-USE HISTORY AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AMONG 133 INCARCERATED MEN

The present study investigated the relationship between crime and subs tance abuse in a sample of 133 consecutively evaluated male prisoners. Using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R, we assessed th e prevalence of various forms of substance abuse in this population an d attempted to judge whether substance abuse played a role in the inde x crime which has led to the present incarceration. In addition, we as sessed whether there was a relationship between the nature of substanc e dependence and the type of crime committed, whether sexual, violent, or non-violent. Among the 133 prisoners, 95% obtained a diagnosis of dependence on one or more substances. Fifty-eight percent of the inmat es reported that they were acutely intoxicated with one or more substa nces at the time they committed the index crime and an additional 6% w ere withdrawing from a substance at the time of the crime. There was n o significant correlation between the type of substance abuse diagnosi s and the type of crime committed. Similarly, there was no significant correlation between the number of individuals who reported they were intoxicated at the time of the offense and the type of crime committed .