The association between impulsivity and alcohol/drug use among prison inmates

Michael H Bernstein; Savannah N McSheffrey; Jacob J van den Berg; Jamie E Vela; L A R Stein; Mary B Roberts; Rosemarie A Martin; Jennifer G Clarke

doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.11.016

The association between impulsivity and alcohol/drug use among prison inmates

Addict Behav. 2015 Mar:42:140-3. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.11.016. Epub 2014 Nov 23.

Authors

Michael H Bernstein¹, Savannah N McSheffrey², Jacob J van den Berg³, Jamie E Vela², L A R Stein⁴, Mary B Roberts⁵, Rosemarie A Martin⁶, Jennifer G Clarke⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of Rhode Island, Department of Psychology, 10 Chafee Rd., Kingston, RI 02811, USA. Electronic address: mbernstein11@my.uri.edu.
² University of Rhode Island, Department of Psychology, 10 Chafee Rd., Kingston, RI 02811, USA.
³ Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond St., Providence, RI 02903, USA; Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
⁴ University of Rhode Island, Department of Psychology, 10 Chafee Rd., Kingston, RI 02811, USA; Brown University, Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02906, USA; Rhode Island Training School, 600 Howard Ave, Cherrydale Court, Cranston, RI 022920, USA.
⁵ Brown University Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Pawtucket, RI 02860, USA; Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI 02860, USA.
⁶ Brown University, Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences, Providence, RI 02912, USA.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined the relation between impulsivity and drug involvement with prison inmates, in spite of their heavy drug use. Among this small body of work, most studies look at clinically relevant drug dependence, rather than drug use specifically.

Method: N=242 adult inmates (34.8% female, 52% White) with an average age of 35.58 (SD=9.19) completed a modified version of the 15-item Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and measures assessing lifetime alcohol, opiate, benzodiazepine, cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogen, and polysubstance use. Lifetime users also reported the frequency of use for the 30days prior to incarceration.

Results: Impulsivity was higher among lifetime users (versus never users) of all substances other than cannabis. Thirty day drug use frequency was only related to impulsivity for opiates and alcohol.

Discussion: This study extends prior work, by showing that a lifetime history of non-clinical substance use is positively associated with impulsivity among prison inmates. Implications for drug interventions are considered for this population, which is characterized by high rates of substance use and elevated impulsivity.

Keywords: Alcohol; Drugs; Impulsivity; Inmates; Prison; Substance use.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Alcoholism / psychology
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods
Female
Humans
Impulsive Behavior*
Male
Middle Aged
Prisoners / psychology*
Smoking Cessation / methods
Substance-Related Disorders / psychology*
Young Adult

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding