Drugs addiction and prison: an empirical study

Abstract: International literature shows us specific clinical and socio-demographic traits that characterize inmate drug addicted population, and specifically those who, after imprisonment, don’t continue therapeutic treatments. So, diagnostic process, planning and realization of rehabilitation treatments for people characterized by high levels of sufferance and chronicity, become more difficult but, at the same time, more necessary. Our study allows monitoring of inmate drug addicted population into “Ucciardone” Prison of Palermo, during nine months. The results permitted to obtain a complete evaluation of substances use style and psychiatrics symptoms of inmate drug addicted population. We administered two clinical instruments: Addiction Severity Index - European version (EuropASI) (Consoli & Bennardo, 2001) and Symptoms Check-List (SCL-90) (Daini & Maremmani, 2000; Schimitz, Hartkamp, Kiuse, Franke, Reister & Tress, 2000). The research involved a sample composed of 58 people imprisoned in “Ucciardone” Prison of Palermo. The recruitment was based on the presence of substance addiction. Severity Ratings analysis, obtained through EuropASI administration, show us that the areas more compromises are: Alcohol/Drugs Use (µ 6,84; S.D. 1,66), Psychological (µ5,14; D.S. 2,61), Occupational (µ5,38;S.D. 1,73), Legal (µ 5,19; S.D. 2,04), Social and Familial Relationship (µ 4,95; S.D. 1,88). This result suggest the presence of an addicted population characterized by a high psycho-social vulnerability.