NCJ Number
163058
Date Published
1996
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video of a lecture by Dr. Eric Wish focuses on his research into drug dependence among arrestees in Baltimore City (Maryland) over the course of 12 months.
Abstract
Dr. Wish first reviews the components and uses of the Drug Use Forecasting program (DUF), in which arrestees are tested for the recent use of various drugs. Wish notes the value of this information for detecting patterns of drug use among offenders in a particular jurisdiction. He then turns to a description of the SANTA Program (Substance Abuse Needs and Treatment Among Arrestees), which extends the DUF program to include the use of a test for drug dependence as defined under the DSM-III criteria. The study reported by Wish provides data from the SANTA program in Baltimore City for 1 year. It involved urine and hair analysis as well as an interview to determine dependence. Drug dependence also encompassed alcohol. The study found a higher percentage of opiate use among Baltimore City arrestees than has been found in any sample of arrestees in any jurisdiction since DUF began in 1987. The percentage of arrestees who tested positive for any of the drugs measured (70-75 percent), however, was comparable to the rate found in other DUF jurisdictions. Of those who tested positive for drugs, some two-thirds were diagnosed to be drug- dependent and in need of treatment. The study also determined the number of drug treatment programs available in Baltimore City. It found that the number of drug-dependent arrestees far outnumbered the treatment slots available. Further, 10-12 percent of the arrestees tested HIV-positive, which was significantly more than the number of known AIDS cases in the city. The conclusion of the study is that the criminal justice system processes a high percentage of drug-dependent persons who need drug treatment, but does not have access to the treatment resources needed for this large drug-dependent population. Audience questions are included on the video.