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The most recent wave of the opioid epidemic in the USA has been complicated by a sharp increase in methamphetamine use. In addition, many people classified with opioid use disorder (OUD) and methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) present indications of psychiatric conditions. These diagnoses are also highly prevalent among people who are admitted to jails, but research conducted with this population is limited, due in part to the challenges associated with gaining access to local detention centers. This paper aims to examine the patterns of psychiatric conditions, OUD, and MUD among an understudied population to help inform the development of service delivery systems.

The present study was designed to assess the prevalence of OUD, MUD and common psychiatric conditions in a large sample of adults (n = 846) collected from four local jails. Diagnostic patterns were evaluated according to the current criteria established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed; American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

More than half (57.3%) of the sample met criteria for MUD, one-third (37.2%) exceeded the threshold for an OUD diagnosis and 15.7% were classified with both conditions. Participants who met criteria for both MUD and OUD were significantly more likely to experience symptoms of major depression [adjusted odd ratios (aOR) = 1.76, 9, confidence intervals (CI) = 1.16–2.67], post-traumatic stress disorder (aOR = 2.51, 1.64–3.83), panic attacks (aOR = 3.24, 95% CI = 2.05–5.13), obsessive compulsive disorder (aOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.66–4.51) and antisocial personality (aOR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.97–4.64).

These results, which were derived from an understudied population of adults detained in local jails, indicate the co-–occurrence of MUD and OUD are associated with certain psychiatric conditions.

The amount of overlap between criminal justice practices and public health is growing and more research is needed to guide new initiatives. This study was designed to assess the relationships between various chronic medical conditions, substance use severity, mental health indicators and criminal justice contact using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Analyses were conducted in three stages to comprehensively examine the relationships between various indicators of physical health, mental health, substance use severity and criminal justice contact.

Results demonstrate indicators of substance use severity surpass physical and mental health conditions as stronger determinants of any criminal justice contact, as well as repeated interactions with police. In addition, combinations of multiple conditions increase the likelihood of criminal justice involvement, but substance use remains a consistent factor contributing to the strongest associations. These findings highlight the importance of capitalizing on the initial point of criminal justice contact to address substance use to prevent further and subsequent involvement in the system.

Criminal justice initiatives based on least harm solutions require evidence to support public health-oriented approaches. The unique approach to examining the intersection of criminal justice practices and health provided in this study can be used to inform alternates to arrest.

The least harmful practices should be adopted to address health conditions at the time of criminal justice contact. These practices should focus heavily on injection drug use as a primary factor associated with the prior arrest. Practices designed to divert arrestees with health conditions away from jails are needed. Law enforcement practices can significantly benefit from public health-oriented approaches.

Criminal justice initiatives based on least harm solutions require evidence to support public health-oriented approaches. The unique approach to examining the intersection of criminal justice practices and health provided in this study can be used to inform alternates to arrest.

This paper aims to extend previous findings by identifying the mental health correlates of both acute and chronic substance use behaviors among a large nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders.

Survey of Youth in Residential Placement interview data from 6,920 juvenile offenders (76% male) detained in 290 US facilities were analyzed to determine bivariate relationships between two indicators of substance use (acute and chronic) and seven mental health domains (depression/isolation, anxiety, anger, trauma, inattention, hallucinations and suicidality).

Prevalence rates of above average indications for all seven mental health domains were significantly higher among offenders under the influence of a substance at the time they committed their instant offense compared to those not under the influence. Offenders with above average indications in the seven studied mental health areas reported a higher level of chronic effects of substance use relative to those with average or below mental health indications.

The results have important implications for the assessment and treatment of co-occurring mental health issues among juvenile offenders with substance use issues. Juveniles with above average mental health indications may be more prone to experiencing a number of substance-related problems. Observed results may guide the implementation of routine assessment procedures at the juvenile detention level. Intake specialists should screen and administer comprehensive mental health assessments for juveniles who report substance intoxication at the time of their instant offense. Juvenile offenders who report clinical levels of mental health symptoms should receive a comprehensive assessment of substance use and related problems.

Although the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health issues among juvenile justice involved populations is well documented, previous research studies in this area have included a number of limitations. Relatively small offender sample populations, often from a single facility, warrant further work with a large, nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders. Inconsistency in measures of substance use and the failure to distinguish between acute and chronic measures of substance use in prior studies also require further investigation. This study contributes to the extant co-occurring substance use and mental health knowledge base by identifying the mental health correlates of both acute and chronic substance use behaviors among a large nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders.

Most research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and offending has been conducted with special populations (e.g. veterans and female inmates) and generally overlooks the additive effect of panic disorder (PD) in offending patterns. The purpose of this paper is to assess the prevalence of PTSD and PD among jail inmates, while simultaneously examining the relationships between these disorders, offending types and frequency.

A random sample of adults recently booked into a local county jail participated in the Comprehensive Addictions and Psychological Evaluation-5 (CAAPE-5), a structured psychological assessment. The study sample was comprised of 200 male and 83 female inmates.

Indications of PTSD were observed among 44.0 percent of male inmates and 57.8 percent of female inmates. Most male inmates (78.4 percent) with positive PTSD indications also met criteria for PD, with a similar proportion (78.1 percent) of female inmates also meeting criteria for both. The combination of PTSD and PD was not associated with offending frequency, but inmates presenting indications of both PTSD and PD were more likely to be charged with a violent offense relative to those with only PTSD.

Inmates with PTSD who also have panic attacks may have a more severe condition with possible implications for other risks. Observations of these conditions among adults recently booked into local jails should coincide with each other.

Few studies have examined mental health conditions among local jail detainees, despite the ever-present need to address them. The current study considers this important population and investigates the prevalence of co-occurring conditions.

The female jail population is steadily growing in rural jails across the country. Detainees have high rates of mental health and substance use disorders, some of which are linked to violent offenses. These conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder (PD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aims to examine the associations between these disorders among females charged with violent offenses.

The sample consists of 167 female detainees from local rural jails in the USA. To assess participants’ behavioral health, the Comprehensive Addictions and Psychological Evaluation – 5 (CAAPE-5) was administered. The associations between PTSD, PD, AUD and violent offenses were investigated using bivariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression.

Over half of the female detainees in the sample met criteria individually for PTSD, PD or AUD, substantiating previous work on prevalence rate. Of the sample, only 10% were charged with violent offenses, from which the predominant condition reported was PTSD. Among detainees arrested for violent offenses, 69% also met criteria for PTSD, 56% for AUD and 44% for PD. Multivariate results indicate AUD was the only significant predictor for violent offenses.

Female detainees experience trauma and mental health conditions at high rates. Research-informed mental health care may result in increased treatment efficacy. Provided the links between PTSD, PD and AUD, special considerations for this population should address interpersonal factors in treatment that may relate to violent offenses.

Little research exists examining female jail detainees and the implications of AUD, PTSD and PD on violent offending. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between AUD, PTSD and PD in female jail detainees with violent offenses.

Despite ranking among the most prevalent mental health conditions and their likely contributions to violent offending, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder (PD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) have not been examined closely among adult males detained in rural jails. The purpose of this paper is to assess the prevalence of co-occurring PTSD, PD and AUD within this population and identify their associations with violent offenses.

The sample consists of 349 males recently booked into local jails. The Comprehensive Addictions and Psychological Evaluation – 5 was administered to assess mental health conditions. Bivariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine associations between PTSD, PD, AUD and violent offenses.

A disproportionate number of participants met criteria for PTSD, PD and AUD. Co-occurrence was prevalent among detainees booked for violent offenses with 25% reporting symptoms of all three disorders. PD emerged as the strongest single condition associated with violence, while the combination of PTSD, PD and AUD significantly increased the likelihood of violent offenses.

A better understanding of the relationship between mental health conditions and violent offenses is essential for efficacious assessment and treatment. Appropriately informed mental health care for jail detainees can increase public safety and guide practices for addressing these conditions within criminal justice populations.

There is limited research on mental health within the rural jail detainee population. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the association between PTSD, PD, AUD and violent offenses drawn from local detention centers.

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to argue that substance use is a real risk for people who experience disaster, and especially so for socially vulnerable populations; second, to incorporate questions that help measure substance use during the disaster life cycle in pre-existing data sets.

The authors provide a critical review and discussion of what is missing from current drug use data sets, and how they could incorporate collection techniques for disaster stricken populations. The manuscript is not based on research but helps develop and test hypotheses. The authors are more discursive, and review philosophical discussions and comparative studies of other pre-existing data sets that collect substance use information.

Although it would take some effort to change these pre-existing national surveys, it could be done, which would allow researchers to collect much more extensive and informative data with regard to substance use during the disaster life cycle.

This manuscript is a commentary/discussion piece that proposes ideas for improved data collection. Ideally, the authors would be able to test these updated surveys.

Improved data collection methods, and improved emergency response and recovery.

Having the ability to collect these data will ultimately make communities more resilient.

The authors argue that the overlap of crime and disaster, in which substance use during the disaster life cycle falls, is an extremely understudied area. As the field of disaster studies continues to grow, the methodological and theoretical challenges of studying crime and disaster have prevented this sub-field from advancing. The authors wish to advance the discipline by pushing toward improved data collection during substance use during the disaster life cycle.

Recent political commentary in the USA has suggested that there is great potential for current criminal justice practices designed for drug-involved offenders to be significantly overhauled in the near future. It is imperative to plan for these changes by assessing how well current programs serve drug-involved criminal justice populations. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

This critical assessment begins with an overview of the most recent research on the prevalence and impact that substance use disorders have within the criminal justice system. Although the evidence demonstrates that relying on incarceration as a crime control method for drug-involved offenders has many shortcomings, there are innovative new programs being adopted across the country. Two of these promising programs are discussed, as well as the potential results that could be realized from integrating medication assisted treatment into appropriate criminal justice programs designed for drug-involved offenders.

Incarceration is a failed practice for attending to the underlying reasons why many drug-involved offenders become involved in criminal activities. There are encouraging new programs emerging in different parts of the USA, but the inclusion of supplemental treatment options could further promote positive outcomes.

The impending expansion of criminal justice programs for drug-involved offenders must consider how innovative new programs can be fused with supplemental treatment options to achieve the best results.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the extent to which drug dependence was associated with the probability of being charged with drug possession compared to drug sales or other offenses.

Data were drawn from the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) II program which collected information from ten cities across the USA between April 1 and September 30, 2010. The sample was comprised of male arrestees between the ages of 18-65 who reported past drug use (n=2,193).

Multinomial logistic regression results indicated the odds of being arrested for drug possession compared to other types of offenses increased by 12 percent for each additional symptom of drug dependence reported by arrestees (RRR=1.12, 95 percent CI=1.06-1.19). In contrast, drug dependence did not predict an increased probability of being charged with drug sales over other types of offenses or drug possession charges.

This evidence suggests drug dependence was a preeminent factor in the likelihood arrestees were charged with drug possession. Criminal justice policies should prioritize dependence assessment and formulate individualized treatment plans to realize a significant reduction in the amount of possession cases processed through the system.

There have been many empirically underdeveloped arguments calling for the decriminalization of drug possession, but none have considered the importance of drug dependence as a preeminent reason why offenders receive possession charges. This research provides a clear and concise illustration of why drug dependence needs to be acknowledged in policy-oriented discussions focused on the criminalization of drug possession.

Effective substance use treatment is a viable way to reduce criminal justice contact among drug-involved offenders, but there is still a lot to learn about which indicators have the greatest impact on treatment outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to determine which clinical indicators influenced the likelihood of rearrest among male drug-involved offenders.

This prospective longitudinal study examined indicators of 12-month post-treatment rearrest for male criminal justice-involved substance use treatment patients. Multinomial logistic regression results drawn from a sample of 1,531 adult male patients who were mandated to substance use treatment indicated that there were different factors related to the likelihood of one as well as multiple post-treatment arrests.

Demographic risk factors, such as age and unemployment, were associated with significant increases in the probability of experiencing an arrest within 12-months of treatment discharge. Substance use relapse was also a significant indicator of the likelihood of rearrest and contributed to an increase in the odds of one post-treatment rearrest as well as multiple rearrests. A drug dependence diagnosis, relative to a diagnosis for alcohol dependence, was associated with an increased likelihood of rearrest. Participation in outpatient treatment was associated with a lower likelihood of rearrest.

These findings emphasize the need for treatment providers to concentrate heavily on demographic risk reduction to minimize the chance that male patients are rearrested after treatment. Relapse prevention, on the other hand, is critical in the effort to minimize the number of post-treatment rearrests in this population.

The results from this study provide evidence to empirically support the refinement of substance treatment programs for male patients involved in the criminal justice system.