Feasibility of Gaining Access to Women in Jail for Health Interventions

et al. 2009

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs

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ABSTRACT. Objective: Screening methods for hazardous drinking have not been evaluated in a population of incarcerated women. This study examines abbreviated versions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identifi cation Test (AUDIT) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) heavy episodic drinking criterion in a sample of female detainees. Method: A total of 2,079 women at the Adult Correctional Institute in Rhode Island were approached for screening between February 2004 and June 2007. The AUDIT-consumption (AUDIT-C), AUDIT-3, and the NIAAA heavy episodic drinking criterion (four or more drinks on one occasion for women) were compared with the full AUDIT at different cut points. Results: More than 55% of the sample endorsed an AUDIT score of 4 or greater-the NIAAA recommended threshold for detecting hazardous drinking. The three-item AUDIT-C with a cut score of 3 yielded a classifi cation most consistent with the AUDIT score of 4 or more; sensitivity and specifi city exceeded .9, and 91.5% of participants were correctly classifi ed. The AUDIT-3 and NIAAA episodic drinking criteria were less sensitive measures. We found no evidence of interactions between the screening instruments and age or ethnicity. Conclusions: The three-item AUDIT-C has robust test characteristics for detecting hazardous drinking in female inmates. Universal screening for hazardous drinking is recommended for incarcerated women, given their high rates of alcohol misuse. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: [50][51][52][53][54] 2009)

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Site Population and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three Brief Alcohol Screens for Detecting Hazardous Drinking in Incarcerated Women

Caviness

Hatgis

et al. 2009

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs

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“…The larger study from which the current data were drawn was designed to test a brief alcohol intervention targeting reduction in alcohol use and HIV risk among female pretrial jail detainees with hazardous alcohol drinking patterns (e.g., Hebert et al, 2008; Stein, Caviness, Anderson, Hebert, & Clarke, 2010). All participants were recruited within the first three days of this index incarceration at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RI DOC) Adult Correctional Institute (ACI).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Trading Among Hazardously Drinking Jailed Women

Schonbrun

Johnson

Women & Criminal Justice

et al. 2015

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For women involved in sex trading, both alcohol problems and passage through the criminal justice system are highly prevalent. This study is the first to conduct a focused examination of factors associated with sex trading among hazardously drinking, pretrial, jailed women. Cocaine use, social support for alcohol abstinence, and more days incarcerated in the 90 days leading up to the index incarceration were significantly associated with sex trading involvement among alcoholic women. Helping incarcerated alcoholic women reduce cocaine use and improve sober support networks during and following an incarceration may minimize sex trading after release.

“…Data for this study were collected as a part of a larger study evaluating the effect of a brief intervention to reduce alcohol use and HIV risk among hazardously drinking incarcerated women (Hebert et al, 2008; Stein et al, 2010). Participants were recruited from the woman’s facility at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RI DOC) Adult Correctional Institute (ACI).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcoholics Anonymous and Hazardously Drinking Women Returning to the Community After Incarceration: Predictors of Attendance and Outcome

Schonbrun

Strong

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

et al. 2010

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Background The number of females incarcerated within the United States has risen dramatically in recent decades and high rates of alcohol problems are evident among this population. Although little is known about the patterns of help utilization and efficacy for alcohol problems, preliminary evidence suggests that AA is a widely available resource for this population. Methods Data were collected as part of a study evaluating the effect of a brief intervention to reduce alcohol use among hazardously drinking (i.e., score of 8 or above on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test or 4 or more drinks at a time on at least 3 days in prior 3 months) incarcerated women. The current study characterized demographic, clinical, and previous AA attendance variables associated with AA attendance in the 6-months following incarceration. Associations between frequency of AA attendance and drinking outcomes following incarceration were also evaluated. Results Among the 224 participants who provided data about AA attendance, 54% reported some AA attendance during the follow-up assessment period. AA attendance in the year prior to study entry (OR = 4.02; 95% CI: 3.32–4.71) and greater baseline consequences of alcohol use (OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.73–2.44) were associated with increased odds of higher frequency of AA attendance following incarceration. Weekly or greater AA attendance was associated with reductions in negative drinking consequences (B = −0.45; p < 0.01) and frequency of drinking days (B = −0.28; p < 0.01) following incarceration. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that AA is frequently utilized by hazardously drinking women following incarceration. Alcohol outcomes may be enhanced by AA attendance at a weekly or greater frequency is associated with better alcohol outcomes relative to lower levels of AA attendance. Evaluation of clinical guidelines for prescribing AA attendance for incarcerated women remains a task for future research.