Hazardous alcohol consumption in non-aboriginal male inmates in New South Wales

• Date: 12 March 2018
• Published date: 12 March 2018
• Pages: 46-55
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-11-2016-0068
• Author: Courtney Field
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Prisoner health,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice

Hazardous alcohol consumption in

non-aboriginal male inmates in

New South Wales

Courtney Field

Abstract

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine correlates and predictors of hazardous drinking

behaviour, that may be considered evidence of generalised strain, in a sample of incarcerated non-Aboriginal

males in New South Wales, Australia.

Design/methodology/approach –Data were collected from 283 non-Aboriginal male inmates as part of a

larger epidemiological survey of inmates in NSW undertaken in 2015 by the Justice Health and Forensic

Mental Health Network. Data relating to a range of social factors were selected with reference to relevant

literature and assessed with regards their predictive value for scores from the Alcohol Use Disorders

Identification Test (AUDIT). To facilitate regression analysis, variables were logically organised into historical

factors or adult factors.

Findings –Almost all participants reported some history of alcohol consumption. Hazardous drinking was

common among participants. While parental alcohol problems and adult drug use were the only correlates of

AUDIT scores, parental misuse of alcohol was shown to be an important predictor of AUDIT scores in

regression analysis. The role of parent gender was inconclusive. Previous incarceration as an adult,

employment status, and drug use as an adult also predicted AUDIT scores.

Originality/value –Alcohol abuse is common among inmates and the use of alcohol is implicated in the

commission of many offences. A better understanding of its genesis may inspire novel approaches to

treatment, leading to improved health outcomes for inmates.

Keywords Prisoners, Prison, Drug abuse, Alcohol use, Alcohol AUDIT, Hazardous drinking

Paper type Research paper

Alcohol use is commo n among inmates. This has been found b oth locally in Australia (see e.g.

Dolan et al., 2015; Gilles et al., 2008) as well as a number of jurisdictions internationally

(e.g. Binswanger et al., 2009; Singleton et al., 2003). This is not surprising considering that

alcohol is implica ted in criminal beha viour, and violent o ffending in partic ular (Collins and

Schlenger, 1988; Gmel and Rehm, 2003). Of greater concern, a report published by

the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2009) shows that levels of alcohol misuse and the

prevalence of alcohol dependence are greater in this population than in the general Australian

community. This research is consistent with other literature in the field. For example, the 2009

Inmate Health Survey in NSW found that 62.6 per cent of male participants drank at hazardous

or harmful levels (I ndig et al., 2010). Furthermore, Rodas et al. (2012) compiled data from

across most Australian jurisdictions and found between 45 and 62.6 per cent of inmates

drank at hazardous or har mful levels. This is als o a trend found in jurisdict ions internationa lly

(Duke, 2005; Fazel et al., 2006; Payne-James et al., 2005).

For individuals and organisations dedicated to providing health services to incarcerated

populations, research examining the correlates and causes of problematic drinking behaviours

among inmates is essential. The misuse of alcohol is associated with an elevated risk of

cardiovascular disease, liver disease, neurologic impairment, and some cancers (Cargiulo, 2007).

In addition, it is related to increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders (Conway et al., 2006),

personality disorders (Bornovalova et al., 2013), other substance abuse (Swendsen et al., 2012),

Received 17 November 2016

Revised 5 February 2017

21 March 2017

27 April 2017

Accepted 27 April 2017

The author wishes to thank

Dr Julia Bowman and Ms Alicia

Webster for comments and

feedback on this piece.

Courtney Field is a Senior

Research Officer at the Justice

Health and Forensic Mental

Health Network, New South

Wales, Australia.

PAG E 46

j

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL OF PRISONER HEALTH

j

VOL. 14 NO. 1 2018, pp. 46-55, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1744-9200 DOI 10.1108/IJPH-11-2016-0068