Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America's Prison Population

Of the 2.3 million inmates crowding our nations prisons and jails, 1.5 million meet the DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction, and another 458,000, while not meeting the strict DSM IV criteria, had histories of substance abuse; were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of their crime; committed their offense to get money to buy drugs; were incarcerated for an alcohol or drug law violation; or shared some combination of these characteristics, according to Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population. Combined these two groups constitute 85 percent of the U.S. prison population.

The report reveals that alcohol and other drugs are significant factors in all crime.  In 2006, alcohol and other drugs were involved in these inmate offenses:

• 78 percent of violent crimes;
• 83 percent of property crimes; and
• 77 percent of public order, immigration or weapon offenses, and probation/parole violations. 

The study can be downloaded here: http://www.casacolumbia.org/templates/publications_reports.aspx