ABSTRACT
Research on the deviant trajectories of addicted persons (alcoholics or drug addicts) has focused on legal problems, particularly incarceration. There are differences between the demographic characteristics of the population observed in prison drug addiction treatment units and those of health sector populations. Three model trajectories were identified for drug addiction in subjects having at least 12 years of addiction. These include: incarcerated drug addicts not having undergone treatment; drug addicts with no history of incarceration having undergone treatment; and methadone patients with a history of incarceration. The chapter discusses observed sociodemographic differences in drug use and observed differences in physical and mental health. With respect to certain clinical situations, incarcerated drug addicts may be studied in the light of three criteria: recidivism, previous recourse to specialized drug treatment centres, and court-ordered treatment. The effects of selection of treatment programmes are particularly evident for trajectories with the most cross-over between drug addiction and delinquency.
