Comparison of social circumstances, substance use and substance-related harm in soon-to-be-released prisoners with and without intellectual disability.
Prisoners with ID are just as likely as other prisoners to use multiple drugs and carry hepatitis C, so discharge plans must include substance-use and health supports.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Boudreau et al. (2015) asked soon-to-be-released prisoners about drug use, unsafe sex, and hepatitis C.
They compared prisoners with intellectual disability to those without it.
The survey was done inside prison, right before release.
What they found
Both groups used many drugs and shared needles at similar rates.
Prisoners with ID were just as likely to have hepatitis C.
The study found no big differences between the two groups.
How this fits with other research
Goodwin et al. (2012) scoping review says people with ID have low rates of use but high harm. The prison data match the high-harm part.
To et al. (2014) found that community clients with ID who misuse substances suffer more mood swings and suicidal thoughts. Prisoners may face the same risks once released.
Clarke et al. (2017) showed that adults with ID living on their own use tobacco and alcohol at high rates. The prison study adds that poly-drug use is also common before incarceration.
Slayter (2010) Medicaid data found only 2.6 % of people with ID had substance-abuse diagnoses. The prison survey suggests the real rate among offenders is far higher, pointing to a detection gap in community records.
Why it matters
If you work with adults with ID in justice or transition settings, treat substance use as a likely risk, not a rare exception. Screen for drugs, alcohol, hepatitis C, and unsafe sex at intake. Build plans that link disability services, addiction care, and probation before the door opens. One concrete step: add a brief drug-use questionnaire to your standard intake packet and flag anyone who reports sharing needles for immediate medical referral.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: The transition out of prison is likely to be a challenging time for prisoners with intellectual disability (ID). However, little evidence exists to inform interventions for people with ID making this transition. In this study we aimed to describe social circumstances, patterns of substance use and substance-related harm in soon-to-be-released prisoners with ID. We compare this group with those without ID, to better understand how the health-related needs of this group compare with the 'mainstream' prison population. METHODS: Data came from face-to-face, confidential interviews with 1325 adult prisoners in seven adult prisons in Queensland, Australia. Prisoners with ID were identified using the Hayes Ability Screening Index (HASI). We used cross-sectional data to examine (i) demographics and criminographics; (ii) social circumstances; and (iii) substance use and substance use related harm. We compared characteristics of those with and without ID using univariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Prisoners with ID (n = 115) were more likely than their peers without ID to be male, to identify as Indigenous Australian, and to report low educational attainment (<10 years) and pre-incarceration unemployment. Those with ID reported a high prevalence of poly-drug use (28.0%), unsafe tattooing (51.1%), unsafe sex (91.0%) and HCV infection (55.6%), although differences with their peers were non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: The health and social needs of prisoners with ID transitioning into the community are a significant concern for researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Our findings highlight the need for proactive, appropriate and targeted service responses from disability, health and justice sectors.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2015 · doi:10.1111/jir.12162