Abstract
The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a drug-free unit (DFU) in reducing the use of substances by incarcerated adult offenders in a South Australian prison. Thirty-one prisoners from the DFU and 31 prisoners from the mainstream population of the prison participated in the research. Frequency of preprison and prison drug use was measured using the Drug Use Questionnaire and a questionnaire designed by the authors. Urinalysis records of all offenders passing through the prison since the DFU commenced operation were also examined. The results revealed that 84% of the mainstream group and 32% of the DFU group were consuming drugs in prison, with cannabinoids, opiates, and benzodiazepines being the drugs consumed in order of most frequent use. The DFU was found to have a significant effect in reducing the use of drugs by offenders in the DFU. Problems associated with urinalysis procedures and different substance-using patterns of offenders are discussed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
