Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 Source: PR Newswire Copyright: 1999 PR Newswire MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF PRISONERS HAD ABUSED DRUGS IN THE PAST WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty-seven percent of state prisoners and 45 percent of federal prisoners surveyed in 1997 said they had used drugs in the month before their offense -- up from 50 percent and 32 percent reported in a 1991 survey, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) said today. Eighty-three percent of state prisoners and 73 percent of federal prisoners had used drugs at some time in the past. In 1997, 33 percent of state and 22 percent of federal prisoners said they committed their current offense while under the influence of drugs, compared to 31 percent and 17 percent in 1991, and about one in six of both state and federal inmates said in 1997 they committed their offense to get money for drugs. According to this special BJS substance abuse report, about three-quarters of all prisoners can be characterized as being involved with alcohol or drug abuse in the time leading up to their arrest. Sixty-four percent of state prisoners and 59 percent of federal prisoners reported having driven an automobile or other motor vehicle at one time or another while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even with an increase in reported drug and alcohol use between 1991 and 1997, substance abuse treatment provided to state and federal prisoners declined. However, there was increased participation in self-help, education or awareness programs for drug and alcohol abuse. Among those prisoners who had been using drugs in the month before their offense, 15 percent of both state and federal inmates said they had received drug abuse treatment during their current prison term -- down from a third of such prisoners in 1991. Among those who said they had used drugs in the month before their offense, 28 percent of the state inmates and 32 percent of the federal inmates said in the 1997 survey that they had participated in a self- help group or drug awareness program. Eighteen percent of both state and federal inmates who said in 1997 that they had been using drugs at the time of their offense reported participation in drug treatment programs, compared to about 40 percent in 1991. In 1997, among such prisoners, 32 percent of state inmates and 38 percent of federal inmates reported participating in a self-help, peer counseling, education or awareness program since admission. Since their admission to prison nearly a quarter of state inmates and 20 percent of federal inmates had been in treatment or other programs for alcohol abuse. Among those with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence, more than 40 percent reported taking part in a treatment or alcohol-related program since admission. More than 277,000 offenders were in prison for a drug law violation in 1997 -- 21 percent of state prisoners and over 60 percent of federal prisoners. The majority of these inmates were serving time for drug trafficking or possession with intent to distribute (70 percent of state drug offenders and 86 percent of federal). More than two-thirds of state and federal drug offenders reported that they possessed or were trafficking in cocaine or crack during their current offense. In 1997 more than 80 percent of state prisoners and more than 70 percent of federal prisoners reported some type of past drug use. Twenty percent of state prisoners and 12 percent of federal prisoners said they had used drugs intravenously. A quarter of state and a sixth of federal prisoners reported experiences consistent with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence. Forty-one percent of state prisoners and 30 percent of federal prisoners reported having consumed as much as a fifth of liquor in a single day (20 drinks, 3 six-packs of beer or 3 bottles of wine). Forty percent of state prisoners and 29 percent of federal prisoners reported having had a past alcohol-related domestic dispute. With the exception of marijuana use, reported drug use among state prisoners remained stable after 1991. The percentage of state inmates who used marijuana in the month before their offense rose sharply -- from 32 percent in 1991 to 39 percent in 1997. During the same period, the percentage of state prisoners who used cocaine or crack in the month before the offense remained unchanged at 25 percent. Among federal prisoners, the reported prior use of all drug types rose, with marijuana and cocaine-based drugs leading the trend. In 1997, 30 percent of federal prisoners said they had used marijuana in the month before the offense and 20 percent said they used cocaine or crack, compared to 19 percent and 15 percent, respectively, in 1991. The special report, "Substance Abuse and Treatment, State and Federal Prisoners, 1997" (NCJ-172871), was written by BJS Policy Analyst Christopher J. Mumola . Single copies may be obtained by calling the BJS Clearinghouse at 1- 800/732-3277. It is also available on the Internet. The BJS Webpage address is: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/. Additional criminal justice materials can be obtained from the Office of Justice Programs Internet homepage at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck