STATE CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS TALLY INMATE DOPE USE

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Nearly 6 percent of a random sampling of Oklahoma inmates
tested positive for drugs, the Department of Corrections reported.

The department randomly tests 5 percent of the prisoner population each
month, department spokesman Jerry Massie said.

Of 2,140 offenders tested from July to September, 128, or 5.98 percent,
tested positive.

The national average is 9.3 percent.

The results of the department's random drug-testing policy are expected to
be released Thursday to the Board of Corrections at its meeting at the
Ouachita Correctional Center in Hodgen.

Some of the state's more secure institutions such as Oklahoma State
Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite and Mack
Alford Correctional Center in Stringtown had positive drug tests that
exceeded the state average.

Oklahoma State Penitentiary, a maximum-security institution with medium-
and minimum-security units, tested 200 inmates, of which 13 came out
positive, representing 6.5 percent of the population.

Of the 111 inmates tested at the medium-security Mack Alford Correctional
Center, 11.71 percent tested positive. The facility has a minimum-security
unit. It was unclear whether any of those testing positive were from that
unit.

Some work centers reported positive drug tests of more than 25 percent of
the population.

The Walters City Community Work Center tested three inmates, two of which
came out positive.

Seven of the 13 inmates at the Ardmore Community Correctional Center tested
positive.

For Oklahoma inmates, marijuana was the drug of choice.

Inmates on probation and parole tested positive more often than those
behind bars.

Of the 266 probation and parolees tested in September, 55 were positive for
drugs, which represents 20.68 percent.

The department uses urine analysis to test for drugs.

The drug testing practice allows the department to analyze how inmates get
drugs, Massie said.

Drugs get to inmates through the mail and by visitors, Massie said.

"You can't disregard the fact that staff may bring it in," he said. "Anyone
who goes into a facility from outside may be a source."

In an effort to reduce drug use among inmates, the department can look at
the inmate's visitors' list, work unit and housing unit in an effort to
find out how the inmate got the drugs, Massie said.

The department plans to expand its use of drug dogs at each prison, he said.

Drug testing allows the department to target treatment dollars, he said,
adding that most of the prison population has a history of drug abuse.

Barbara Hoberock can be reached at (405) 528-2465.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski