MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF PRISONERS HAD ABUSED DRUGS IN THE PAST

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty-seven percent of
state prisoners and 45 percent of federal prisoners surveyed in 1997
said they had used drugs in the month before their offense -- up from
50 percent and 32 percent reported in a 1991 survey, the Justice
Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) said today.
Eighty-three percent of state prisoners and 73 percent of federal
prisoners had used drugs at some time in the past.

In 1997, 33 percent of state and 22 percent of federal prisoners said
they committed their current offense while under the influence of
drugs, compared to 31 percent and 17 percent in 1991, and about one
in six of both state and federal inmates said in 1997 they committed
their offense to get money for drugs.

According to this special BJS substance abuse report, about
three-quarters of all prisoners can be characterized as being
involved with alcohol or drug abuse in the time leading up to their
arrest. Sixty-four percent of state prisoners and 59 percent of
federal prisoners reported having driven an automobile or other motor
vehicle at one time or another while under the influence of alcohol
or drugs.

Even with an increase in reported drug and alcohol use between 1991
and 1997, substance abuse treatment provided to state and federal
prisoners declined. However, there was increased participation in
self-help, education or awareness programs for drug and alcohol abuse.

Among those prisoners who had been using drugs in the month before
their offense, 15 percent of both state and federal inmates said they
had received drug abuse treatment during their current prison term --
down from a third of such prisoners in 1991. Among those who said
they had used drugs in the month before their offense, 28 percent of
the state inmates and 32 percent of the federal inmates said in the
1997 survey that they had participated in a self- help group or drug
awareness program.

Eighteen percent of both state and federal inmates who said in 1997
that they had been using drugs at the time of their offense reported
participation in drug treatment programs, compared to about 40 percent
in 1991. In 1997, among such prisoners, 32 percent of state inmates
and 38 percent of federal inmates reported participating in a
self-help, peer counseling, education or awareness program since admission.

Since their admission to prison nearly a quarter of state inmates and
20 percent of federal inmates had been in treatment or other programs
for alcohol abuse. Among those with a history of alcohol abuse or
dependence, more than 40 percent reported taking part in a treatment
or alcohol-related program since admission.

More than 277,000 offenders were in prison for a drug law violation in
1997 -- 21 percent of state prisoners and over 60 percent of federal
prisoners. The majority of these inmates were serving time for drug
trafficking or possession with intent to distribute (70 percent of
state drug offenders and 86 percent of federal). More than
two-thirds of state and federal drug offenders reported that they
possessed or were trafficking in cocaine or crack during their
current offense.

In 1997 more than 80 percent of state prisoners and more than 70
percent of federal prisoners reported some type of past drug use.
Twenty percent of state prisoners and 12 percent of federal prisoners
said they had used drugs intravenously.

A quarter of state and a sixth of federal prisoners reported
experiences consistent with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence.
Forty-one percent of state prisoners and 30 percent of federal
prisoners reported having consumed as much as a fifth of liquor in a
single day (20 drinks, 3 six-packs of beer or 3 bottles of wine).
Forty percent of state prisoners and 29 percent of federal prisoners
reported having had a past alcohol-related domestic dispute.

With the exception of marijuana use, reported drug use among state
prisoners remained stable after 1991. The percentage of state
inmates who used marijuana in the month before their offense rose
sharply -- from 32 percent in 1991 to 39 percent in 1997. During the
same period, the percentage of state prisoners who used cocaine or
crack in the month before the offense remained unchanged at 25 percent.

Among federal prisoners, the reported prior use of all drug types
rose, with marijuana and cocaine-based drugs leading the trend. In
1997, 30 percent of federal prisoners said they had used marijuana in
the month before the offense and 20 percent said they used cocaine or
crack, compared to 19 percent and 15 percent, respectively, in 1991.

The special report, "Substance Abuse and Treatment, State and Federal
Prisoners, 1997" (NCJ-172871), was written by BJS Policy Analyst
Christopher J. Mumola . Single copies may be obtained by calling the
BJS Clearinghouse at 1- 800/732-3277. It is also available on the
Internet. The BJS Webpage address is: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/.

Additional criminal justice materials
can be obtained from the Office of Justice Programs Internet homepage
at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.