Methamphetamine Use Among Offenders Association for Criminal Justice Research (CA) March 17, 2005 Jerry Cartier / David Farabee / Michael Prendergast University of California, Los Angeles Integrated Substance Abuse Programs UCLA-ISAP National Prevalence Drug Use Among Male Arrestees (ADAM, 2002) (National Medians) Any Drug: 63.9% Marijuana: 40.5% Crack/Powder Cocaine: 30.4% Heroin: 5.9% Methamphetamine: 5.3% UCLA-ISAP Cities Reporting >20% Arrestees Using Methamphetamine (Hawaii) UCLA-ISAP UCLAs Evaluation of Californias Prison Treatment Initiative Initial Assessment (IA) Form prison-based programs N=25,297 UCLA-ISAP Primary Substance Reported by California Inmates (N=22,903) F = 13.0% CA = 6.5% F = 23.2% CA = 46.2% UCLA-ISAP Profiles of Methamphetamine Users vs. Other Inmates UCLA-ISAP Profiles of Methamphetamine Users vs. Other Inmates VARIABLE MA Users (n=6,929) Non-MA Users (n=18,496) Total (N=25,425) AGE *35.9 MALE *53.5 RACE -African-Amer *29.4 -White *35.0 -Hispanic EMPLOYED *40.4 TX VOLUNTEER *45.2 Risk Behaviors Associated with Methamphetamine Use HIV Crime & Violence HIV UCLA-ISAP Injection-Related HIV Risk Injected in the Past 6 Months: MA Users: 37.1% Non-MA Users: 11.1% Of the MA IDUs: 24% used dirty syringes 30% shared cookers, rinse water, etc. UCLA-ISAP Sex-Related HIV Risk (Odd Ratios of MA Users vs. Non-MA Users) UCLA-ISAP Sex-Related HIV Risk (Odd Ratios of MA Users vs. Non-MA Users) Crime & Violence UCLA-ISAP Economic-Compulsive Intentional crime that results from drug users engaging in an economically oriented crime to support their own addiction. Routes of Influence (Source: Goldstein (1985). Journal of Drug Issues, 15, ) Pharmacological Crimes that occur as a result of the excitability, paranoia, or poor impulse control associated with use of certain drugs. Systemic Crimes associated with drug manufacturing and distribution. UCLA-ISAP Methamphetamine Use and Violence Studies testing co- occurrence and/or causation About 50% of MA report engaging in violence A quarter to two- thirds attributed violence to MA use UCLA-ISAP Returned to Custody for Any Reason (Odd Ratios of MA Users vs. Non-MA Users) MA users were about 30% more likely to recidivate than Non- MA users. This effect held even after controlling for involvement in drug trade. UCLA-ISAP Returned to Custody for Violent Crime (Odd Ratios of MA Users vs. Non-MA Users) MA users were about as likely to recidivate as Non-MA users for a violent crime. However, MA use was associated with days of self-reported violent acts. UCLA-ISAP Self-Reported Violence (MA Users vs. Non-MA Users, Past 30 Days) MA users were over three times as likely to report the commission of violent acts (e.g., assault, domestic violence, armed robbery, mugging, etc.). UCLA-ISAP Summary MA use is most prevalent in Western states, but expanding into the Midwest. Among substance-abusing inmates in California, MA is the most commonly cited primary drug. MA-using offenders are more likely than other drug users to be IDUs, but no more likely than other IDUs to share works. (Hawaii) UCLA-ISAP Summary (cont.) MA use is associated with a 2-5 fold increase in sex- related HIV risk. A quarter to two-thirds of MA users attribute violent acts to MA use. The association between MA use, crime, and violence does not appear to be an artifact of drug trade involvement. UCLA-ISAP Summary (cont.) MA users were nearly three times more likely to report violent acts than non-MA users UCLA-ISAP Summary (cont.) MA users about 30% more likely to recidivate (12-months) than Non- MA users. Effect held after controlling for involvement in drug trade. End