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History
The history of drug use among incarcerated people could be dated back as far as when prisons and drugs began. However, there is no documentation of this history, which mean only inferences can be made from the trends and statistics. Between 2000 and 2009, the US Department of Justice has established that over 58% of state prisoners and 63% of jail inmates use one or more types of drugs (Bronson et al., 2020). These figures have remained unchanged and they dwarf the drug usage figures outside prisons where only 5% of the general population displaying characteristics of drug use and dependence. The history of drug use in prisons go beyond 2008 with some documents indicating a steady rise in drug use between 1980 and 2008.
Other historical statistics that can be used to illustrate how long prisons have been experiencing the drug problem involve hospitalization and mortality rates. According to Schwartzapfel and Jenkins (2021), the number of victims in state prisons has risen by over 600% between 2001 and 2018. In the county jails, the increase within the same period has been above 200%. The deaths are either direct or indirect as illustrated in the graph above. Indirect causes include accidents, illnesses, suicide, and homicide. However, the direct causes have been estimated to be rising at a higher rate than the rest. It is important to acknowledge that while these figures do not effectively highlight the history of drug use among the incarcerated people, they effectively highlight how long prisons have had this problem.
Treatment
The incarceration facilities have recognized the magnitude of the problem and have undertaken to implement the necessary measured. However, it is important to acknowledge that efforts have not been a success considering the constant rise in both usage and mortality rates. According to Schwartzapfel and Jenkins (2021), the prisons staff have been art of the problem, especially due to their involvement in the entry of drugs to the prisons. The current efforts have included drug and contraband detection, which is aimed at preventing drugs from getting into the prisons, comprehensive search programs in the cells have also become a norm. Lastly, those who have displayed clinical signs of drug use and dependence are subjected to the necessary medication.
The measures implemented by the prisons can be classified into treatment and prevention strategies. The treatment strategies are applied across all offenders and drug users both free and incarcerated. Medication-assisted treatment adopts a combination of psychosocial therapy and use of medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, many laws in prisons that hinder medication are removed. Additionally, increased access to treatment resources, including prescription drugs, is also considered part of the treatment strategy. Prevention strategies in prisons include patient review and restriction, which reduces access. Additionally, monitoring the use of prescription drugs, which are often misused, is another prevention measure common among American prisons.
References
Bronson, J., Stroops, J., Simmer, S., & Berzofsky, M. (2020). Drug use, dependence, and abuse among state prisoners and jail inmates, 200-2009. BJS.
Schwartzapfel, B., & Jenkins, J. (2021). Inside the nation’s overdose crisis in prisons and jails. The marshal Project.
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