ABSTRACT
Substance use is regarded as a pervasive problem in many countries. In addition to the direct and indirect economic costs, there are negative social (e.g.family dysfunction, unemployment) and health (e.g. HIVAIDS) consequences associated with use. Of particular concern is the well—documented association between substance use and crime (Graycar 2001; Hiller et al.1999; Makkai 2000), the frequency and severity of which has been directly linked to substance use levels (Anglin et al.1999; Chaiken and Chaiken 1990; Makkai and Payne 2003). While alcohol is frequently implicated in offending, particularly crimes involving violence, it is the widespread use of illicit substances that is cause of widespread concern. For example, between 60 and 80 per cent of arrestees test positive to at least one illicit substance (Kouri et al.1997; Milner et al.2004; Prendergast and Maugh 1994), while for incarcerated offenders, approximately two—thirds of first—time male and three—quarters of first—time female prisoners report a history of problematic drug use in the six months prior to incarceration (Makkai and Payne 2003). These figures rise to 80 per cent in males and 90 per cent of females for second and subsequent incarcerations (Department of Justice 2002). Approximately 55 per cent of females (Johnson 2004) and 52 per cent of males (Makkai and Payne 2003) meet the criteria for substance dependence while in prison, around 55 per cent of offenders relapse into drug use within one month of release from incarceration, while some 75 per cent of offenders have reported using substances during their incarceration (Nurco et al.1991).
