Methamphetamine Use Among Offenders Association for Criminal Justice Research (CA) March 17, 2005 Jerry Cartier / David Farabee / Michael Prendergast University of California, Los Angeles Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
UCLA-ISAP National Prevalence Drug Use Among Male Arrestees (ADAM, 2002) (National Medians) Any Drug: 63.9% Marijuana: 40.5% Crack/Powder Cocaine: 30.4% Heroin: 5.9% Methamphetamine: 5.3%
UCLA-ISAP Cities Reporting >20% Arrestees Using Methamphetamine (Hawaii)
UCLA-ISAP UCLA’s Evaluation of California’s Prison Treatment Initiative Initial Assessment (IA) Form prison-based programs N=25,297
UCLA-ISAP Primary Substance Reported by California Inmates (N=22,903) F = 13.0% CA = 6.5% F = 23.2% CA = 46.2%
UCLA-ISAP Profiles of Methamphetamine Users vs. Other Inmates
UCLA-ISAP Profiles of Methamphetamine Users vs. Other Inmates VARIABLE MA Users (n=6,929) Non-MA Users (n=18,496) Total (N=25,425) AGE *35.9 MALE *53.5 RACE -African-Amer *29.4 -White *35.0 -Hispanic EMPLOYED *40.4 TX VOLUNTEER *45.2
Risk Behaviors Associated with Methamphetamine Use HIV Crime & Violence
HIV
UCLA-ISAP Injection-Related HIV Risk Injected in the Past 6 Months: –MA Users: 37.1% –Non-MA Users: 11.1% Of the MA IDUs: –24% used “dirty” syringes –30% shared cookers, rinse water, etc.
UCLA-ISAP Sex-Related HIV Risk (Odd Ratios of MA Users vs. Non-MA Users)
UCLA-ISAP Sex-Related HIV Risk (Odd Ratios of MA Users vs. Non-MA Users)
Crime & Violence
UCLA-ISAP Economic-Compulsive Intentional crime that results from drug users engaging in an economically oriented crime to support their own addiction. Routes of Influence (Source: Goldstein (1985). Journal of Drug Issues, 15, ) Pharmacological Crimes that occur as a result of the excitability, paranoia, or poor impulse control associated with use of certain drugs. Systemic Crimes associated with drug manufacturing and distribution.
UCLA-ISAP Methamphetamine Use and Violence Studies testing co- occurrence and/or causation About 50% of MA report engaging in violence A quarter to two- thirds attributed violence to MA use
UCLA-ISAP Returned to Custody for Any Reason (Odd Ratios of MA Users vs. Non-MA Users) MA users were about 30% more likely to recidivate than Non- MA users. This effect held even after controlling for involvement in drug trade.
UCLA-ISAP Returned to Custody for Violent Crime (Odd Ratios of MA Users vs. Non-MA Users) MA users were about as likely to recidivate as Non-MA users for a violent crime. However, MA use was associated with days of self-reported violent acts.
UCLA-ISAP Self-Reported Violence (MA Users vs. Non-MA Users, Past 30 Days) MA users were over three times as likely to report the commission of violent acts (e.g., assault, domestic violence, armed robbery, mugging, etc.).
UCLA-ISAP Summary MA use is most prevalent in Western states, but expanding into the Midwest. Among substance-abusing inmates in California, MA is the most commonly cited primary drug. MA-using offenders are more likely than other drug users to be IDUs, but no more likely than other IDUs to share works. (Hawaii)
UCLA-ISAP Summary (cont.) MA use is associated with a 2-5 fold increase in sex- related HIV risk. A quarter to two-thirds of MA users attribute violent acts to MA use. The association between MA use, crime, and violence does not appear to be an artifact of drug trade involvement.
UCLA-ISAP Summary (cont.) MA users were nearly three times more likely to report violent acts than non-MA users
UCLA-ISAP Summary (cont.) MA users about 30% more likely to recidivate (12-months) than Non- MA users. Effect held after controlling for involvement in drug trade.
End