Because of what I have been through: incarcerated women’s experience with substance use and mental health

• In Event: Substance-Use and Mental Health

Abstract

Women represent the fastest growing justice-involved population. In particular, recent research has documented the unusually high rates of incarcerated women's serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Compared to the male incarcerated population, incarcerated women have significantly less access to treatment. The purpose of this study is to understand the scope of substance use and mental health treatment need among a sample of women held in a local Midwestern county jail. Additionally, researchers sought to understand the motivation behind their history of and current drug use patterns. In addition to the Texas Christian University Drug Screen II/IV and the Correctional Mental Health Screen, semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess respondent’s history of incarcerated withdrawal, overdose, and mental health diagnoses/treatment along with motivation for substance use. Preliminary results and implications of the findings will be presented.

Authors

• Laura Lutgen-Nieves, University of Southern Indiana

• Caroline I. Jalain, University of Southern Indiana

• Taylor Petty, University of Southern Indiana