How does early adulthood arrest alter substance use behavior? Are there differential effects by race/ethnicity and gender?

PURPOSE

Much criminal justice research has ignored racial/ethnic and gender differences in substance use subsequent to criminal justice involvement. This paper investigated how early adulthood arrest (i.e., 18 to 21 years of age) influences individuals' subsequent transitions from non-substance use to substance use, and substance use to non-substance use through age 30. We also consider if these relationships differ by race/ethnicity and gender. Processes proscribed by labeling theory subsequent to getting arrested are considered.

METHODS

We analyzed 15 waves of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed using Stata software version 14.

RESULTS

We found racial/ethnic differences in the effect of arrest on subsequent substance use, particularly marijuana. Being arrested was associated with shifting non-binge drinkers and non-marijuana users into binge drinking and marijuana use; as well as shifting binge drinkers and marijuana users into non-use. This pattern was most evident among White and Black men. For Black men, the association between arrest and both becoming a binge drinker and becoming a non-binge drinker was experienced most strongly during their early twenties. Women's patterns in substance use transitions following an arrest were less clear than for the men.

CONCLUSION

Some results, particularly transitioning into marijuana use, offer qualified support for processes proscribed through labeling theory. Findings that arrest shifts individuals into non-marijuana use suggest that factors not accounted for by labeling theory - arrest serving as a teachable moment for those using substances - may be at play.

Alcohol dependence: a public health perspective

AIMS

To review epidemiological research on alcohol dependence and to propose a public health approach to address this problem.

DESIGN AND SETTING

The research under review is basically constituted by general population surveys.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals in the community 18 years of age and older.

MEASUREMENT

Twelve-month rates of alcohol dependence are estimated using DSM criteria.

FINDINGS

The prevalence of alcohol dependence has been stable in the United States, at around 6% for men and 2% for women. The risk of alcohol dependence begins at low levels of drinking and increases linearly with alcohol consumption. Mean group level of consumption shows some relationship to prevalence of dependence. Alcohol-dependent individuals are responsible for about 50% of the social, legal and interpersonal alcohol-related problems in society.

CONCLUSION

Alcohol dependence is present at relatively high levels in the community. Alcohol-dependent individuals are responsible for a fair proportion of alcohol-related problems in society. A public health approach to this problem, emphasizing prevention and group level interventions to lower prevalence levels, is warranted.

Social context and "natural recovery": the role of social capital in the resolution of drug-associated problems

This paper explores the social context of "natural recovery" from problems associated with the misuse of intoxicants. Using data collected from in-depth interviews with 46 former alcohol- and drug-dependent persons, this paper examines how the social capital that these respondents had accumulated prior to their addiction and maintained during it aided in their recovery without treatment. We specifically explore how the relations within their lives and the actual and virtual resources available to subjects through their social capital aided in our respondents' "natural recovery" from drug-use related problems. We conclude with a discussion of the implications an analysis of social capital has for the treatment of drug-associated problems as well as for drug policy.

Spontaneous remission from alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse: seeking quantitative answers to qualitative questions

A quantitative review of the substance abuse literature revealed a mean general prevalence of spontaneous remission from alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs abuse of 26.2% when a broad definition of remission was employed and 18.2% when a narrow definition was implemented. From the results of this review, it was concluded that few meaningful differences exist between spontaneous remitters and persons who either continue misusing substances or remit through treatment on pre-remission measures of prior drug involvement. Of the factors cited by self-remitters as important in facilitating their desistance from substances, the present review found that health concerns, pressure from friends and family, and extraordinary events were instrumental in initiating spontaneous remission, while social support, non-drug-using friendships, willpower, and identity transformation were pivotal in maintaining change. Evidence is presented to indicate that spontaneous remission from alcohol and illicit drugs and spontaneous remission from tobacco smoking may differ in several key respects.