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Factors associated with drug and alcohol dependency among women in prison

Abstract

Drug and alcohol use have been found to be important correlates of criminal offending. The Drug Use Careers of Offenders (DUCO) studies found high levels of drug and alcohol dependency among women, men and juveniles incarcerated in Australian prisons. Offenders also reported a range of negative life experiences related to their drug and alcohol abuse. The DUCO female study offers an opportunity to explore the interconnections between drug and alcohol problems experienced by family members, other life experiences of the women offenders, and drug and alcohol dependency at the time of arrest. Results show correlations between family drug and alcohol problems and the perpetration of child abuse. A range of other negative life experiences were associated with growing up in families with drug and alcohol problems, including early onset of criminal offending, drug and alcohol dependency, and low socioeconomic status at the time of arrest. These results suggest that early intervention with families of drug users is needed in order to break the intergenerational cycle of problem drug and alcohol use including alcohol dependency which is a more prevalent problem among Indigenous women prisoners. Prison programming and aftercare for women offenders with drug or alcohol dependencies should be designed to consider the needs of their children.

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