Premium
Comparison of social circumstances, substance use and substance‐related harm in soon‐to‐be‐released prisoners with and without intellectual disability
Author(s) -
Bhandari A.,
Dooren K.,
Eastgate G.,
Lennox N.,
Kinner S. A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/jir.12162
Subject(s) - harm , prison , psychiatry , psychology , psychological intervention , intellectual disability , population , medicine , criminology , environmental health , social psychology
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 Q ueensland, A ustralia. Prisoners with ID were identified using the H ayes A bility S creening I ndex ( 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.