Substance use amongst mentally disordered offenders in medium security: prevalence and relationship to offending behaviour

Date18 November 2013
Pages259-268
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-08-2012-0010
Published date18 November 2013
AuthorCalem De Burca,Helen Louise Miles,Eduardo Antonio Vasquez
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice
Substance use amongst mentally
disordered offenders in medium
security: prevalence and relationship
to offending behaviour
Calem De Burca, Helen Louise Miles and Eduardo Antonio Vasquez
Calem De Burca is a MSc
Student at Trevor Gibbens
Medium Secure Unit, Kent
Forensic Psychiatry Service,
Maidstone, UK and School of
Psychology, University of Kent,
Canterbury, UK.
Helen Louise Miles is a Clinical
and Forensic Psychologist at
Trevor Gibbens Medium
Secure Unit, Kent Forensic
Psychiatry Service, Maidstone,
UK and Department of
Forensic Mental Health
Sciences, Institute of
Psychiatry, Kings College
London, London, UK.
Eduardo Antonio Vasquez
is a Lecturer in Forensic
Psychology at School of
Psychology, University of Kent,
Canterbury, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – Substance use contributes to the development of criminogenic behaviour and mental health
problems. However, the extent and severity of substance use and the relationshipto offending in mentally
disordered offenders (MDOs) admitted to regional medium secure units has received relatively limited
research attention.
Design/methodology/approach – Case note reviews (n ¼57) and semi-structured interviews (n¼21) of
past substance use levels, substance use problems and forensic history were conducted at a medium
secure unit in South East England.
Findings – Results highlighted the high prevalence of substance use among MDOs, especially when
determined by self-report. At least one-third (case note review) or almost half (self-report) used alcohol at the
time of their index offence, although many failed to recognise use as problematic. Significant correlations
were found between heavy past use of alcohol and use of alcohol at time of offending. Past heavy use of
alcohol significantly predicted whether or not the individual was convicted of a violent offence.
Research limitations/implications – The small sample from one area limits the generalisability of findings
as substance use demographics vary. Methodological shortcomings were noted when comparing
data from self-report and case note information. Retrospective recall bias may influence past perceptions
of substance use.
Practical implications – These preliminary findings indicate the importance of assessing substance use in
MDOs and considering its relationship to offending behaviour in treatment and risk management.
Originality/value – Although anecdotally substance use is known to be high and likely to be related to
offending behaviour amongst MDOs, there is little previous research highlighting this.
Keywords Substance use, Offending behaviour, Mentally disordered offenders,
Medium secure forensic services, Mental illness, Crimes
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Substance use has wide-ranging negative implications for society. Among others things, it has
been found to be a contributor to the development of criminogenic behaviour (Farabee et al.,
2001) as well as a precipitating factor in the development of mental disorder (DSM-IV). The
Epidemiological Catchment Area Study carried out in the USA in the mid-1980s posed that the
chances of having an addictive disorder are almost three times higher for those with a mental
disorder than the general population (Reiger et al., 1984). Since this influential study there has
been a proliferation of research consistently showing high levels of substance use among the
mentally ill. RachBeisel et al. (1999) describe how it is widely established that the abuse of drugs
The authors would like to thank
staff and service users in Kent
Forensic Psychiatry Service that
made this study possible. This
study received no external sources
of funding.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-08-2012-0010 VOL. 15 NO. 4 2013, pp. 259-268, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
PAGE 259

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