A Formative Evaluation of a Drug-Free Unit in a Correctional Services Setting

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a drug-free unit (DFU) in reducing the use of substances by incarcerated adult offenders in a South Australian prison. Thirty-one prisoners from the DFU and 31 prisoners from the mainstream population of the prison participated in the research. Frequency of preprison and prison drug use was measured using the Drug Use Questionnaire and a questionnaire designed by the authors. Urinalysis records of all offenders passing through the prison since the DFU commenced operation were also examined. The results revealed that 84% of the mainstream group and 32% of the DFU group were consuming drugs in prison, with cannabinoids, opiates, and benzodiazepines being the drugs consumed in order of most frequent use. The DFU was found to have a significant effect in reducing the use of drugs by offenders in the DFU. Problems associated with urinalysis procedures and different substance-using patterns of offenders are discussed.