Overview of Substance Use Disorders and Incarceration of African American Males

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15519147
AutoresVenkata Kishore R Mukku (0000-0002-3840-3572, Meharry Medical College, autor correspondente), Venkata K Mukku, Timothy G Benson (McLean Hospital), Farzana Alam (0000-0002-9004-9363, Meharry Medical College), William D Richie (Meharry Medical College), Rahn Kennedy Bailey (Meharry Medical College)
Ano2012
Volume3
Páginas98-98
Data de publicação2012-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
EditoraFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00098
PMID23162480
PMCIDPMC3495267
OpenAlexW2163929399
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas15
Referências citadas9

Incarceration affects the lives of many African American men and often leads to poverty, ill health, violence, and a decreased quality of life. There has been an unprecedented increase in incarceration among African American males since 1970. In 2009, the incarceration rate among black males was 6.7 times that of white males and 2.6 times of Hispanic males. Substance abuse in African American males leads to higher mortality rates, high rates of alcohol-related problems, more likely to be victims of crimes, and HIV/AIDS. African Americans comprised only 14% of the U.S. population but comprised 38% of the jail population. The cost of incarcerating persons involved in substance related crimes has increased considerably over the past two decades in the U.S. A reduction in the incarceration rate for non-violent offences would save an estimated $17 billion per year. Substance use disorder makes the individual more prone to polysubstance use and leads to impulse control problems, selling drugs, and other crimes. The high rate of incarceration in U.S. may adversely affect health care, the economy of the country, and will become a burden on society. Implementation of good mental health care, treatment of addiction during and after incarceration will help to decrease the chances of reoffending. Therapeutic community programs with prison-based and specialized treatment facilities, cognitive behavioral therapy treatment for 91-180 days, and 12-step orientation with staff specialized in substance abuse can be helpful. It is essential for health care professionals to increase public awareness of substance abuse and find ways to decrease the high rates of incarceration

Addiction · Criminology · Environmental health · Health care · Mass incarceration · Mental health · Political science · Polysubstance dependence · Population · Poverty · Prison · Psychiatry · Substance abuse · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes