Substance Abuse among Inmates of Prison in Erbil City

Background and objectives: A large proportion of people imprisoned for criminal acts have a history of substance use. Many continue to use drugs while in prison. There have been no recent studies of substance use in prisoners within our community and, thus, the present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of substance abuse and dependence in prisoners. Methods: This study was conducted at directorate of adult reformatory prison in Erbil city from 15 March to 15 September 2014. A convenient sample of 100 convicted male inmates was selected. After randomization, each prisoner was assessed using a semi-structured interview based on the DSM IV. Drug abuse patterns and the relationship between addiction, crime prevalence, and some personal as well as socio-demographic characteristics were studied. Results: Characteristics such as age, education level, economic status, residence, had effects on the rate of drug use and, on crime commitment and its re-occurrence. Accordingly, younger age, lower socioeconomic status and urban residence demonstrated a relationship with tendency to commit crime and repeat it while employment had no significant effect. Conclusion: The prevalence of substance abuse and dependence, although highly variable, is typically higher in prison than the general population. This highlights the need for screening for substance abuse and dependence at entry into prison alongside an effective treatment during sentencing and follow-up on discharge. Specialist addiction services for prisoners will have the potential to make a considerable impact on the prison population of Erbil.