Substance use disorder and crime among prison population in north-central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The association between substance use and criminality can be discerned through the acknowledgement of the increase of what are commonly called drug defined offences. These include those having to do with violation of drug laws and the illicit nature of drug industry, or drug related offences, and those offences committed while under the influence of drug and/or alcohol.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of substance use disorder and assess the relationship between offence committed and presence of substance use disorder among awaiting trial inmates.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 366 male inmates awaiting trial in Jos maximum security prison, Plateau state. They were screened with self-administered General Health Questionnaire item 28 (GHQ-28) and interviewed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

Result: Prevalence of substance use disorder was 32.8% (120) among subjects. Statistical significant association was found between type of offence committed and the use of substance (P <0.01).

Conclusion: Substance use disorder was statistically associated with the type of offence committed, with the crime of murder more related to substance use disorder than the other offences.

Keywords: Substance use disorder, Crime, Prison, Awaiting trial, Prevalence.