NCJ Number
197960
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 46 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 715-728
Editor(s)
George B. Palermo M.D.
Date Published
December 2002
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study attempted to assess substance use patterns of urban and rural incarcerated drug abusers with the expectation that there would be greater differences in drug use between the two groups and urban drug users using more drugs than rural drug users.
Abstract
A significant number of individuals involved in the criminal justice system use drugs. The purpose of this study was to assess the age of initial use of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, sedatives, amphetamines, heroin, other opiates, analgesics, and multiple drugs among inmates from rural and urban settings, examine lifetime drug use among inmates from rural and urban settings, and compare past year drug use before incarceration among inmates from rural and urban settings. The study included 661 inmates from 4 Kentucky State correctional facilities. The inmate participants included those enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program and inmates in the general prison program. Participants were interviewed face-to-face in private settings with a trained interviewer. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) strategy was used to examine the effects of place of origin (rural or urban) on age of first use, years of regular lifetime use, and use pattern 12-months prior to incarceration. Results indicated that rural respondents were somewhat more protected from drug use because they were more likely to be older at the age of first marijuana use and first cocaine use. However, rural respondents reported more frequent use of alcohol and sedatives than did urban drug abusers. Additional research is recommended in examining why some drug use among incarcerated drug abusers was different for rural residents. Study limitations are presented and discussed. Tables and references