1. Monitoring drug use in custodial institutions for juvenile offenders in Portugal
2nd European Conference on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies
Structured Session: Drug research and drug monitoring in prison
Lisbon, october 26th, 2017
Ludmila Carapinha, Catarina Guerreiro
SICAD Serviço de Intervenção nos Comportamentos Aditivos e nas Dependências
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2. The research team works in the Portuguese governmental organization dedicated to the monitoring and intervention in addictive behaviours:
General – Directorate for the Intervention in Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies.

3. Crimes committed between 12-16 years old
Background
Crimes committed between years old
Custodial institutions for juvenile offenders
6 institutions in Portugal
Custodial Facility

4. Aim
To determine the prevalence and intensity of drug use among juvenile offenders in custodial settings

5. Method Census Self-report questionnaire Application in 06/2015
In the classroom by the research team
GENERAL INFORMATION
DRUG USE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE PRISON
DRUG INJECTING AND OTHER HEALTH RISK BEHAVIOURS
HEALTH STATUS: overdose

6. Custody length (years)
GENERAL INFORMATION
152 young offenders
142 participants
Custody length (years)
> 1 – 2 YEARS
67%
<= 1
22%
> 2 - 3
21%
89% boys
14 Years
20 years
74%
16-18 years old
12%
14%

7. DRUG USE 52 84 91 97 3,9 84 34 88 ALCOHOL ILLICIT DRUGS
2015: students in public schools* (PS) vs young offenders (YO) (boys) 14 52 84 18 91 97
AGE PS YO
(%)
ALCOHOL
Lifetime Prevalence: 93%
(%)
ILLICIT DRUGS
Lifetime Prevalence: 89%
Cannabis: 87%
* Feijão, 2016 14
3,9 84 18 34 88
AGE PS YO
* Feijão (2015)

8. DRUG USE BEFORE CUSTODY
ALCOHOL
12 months before custody
30 days before custody
ANY alcoholic beverage: 82%
ANY alcoholic beverage: 72%
Spirits (74%)
Beer (66%)
Wine (50%)
20 days or more (frequency)
Spirits (16,7%)
Beer (12,5 %)
Wine (7,5%)
Binge (45%)

9. DRUG USE BEFORE CUSTODY
(%)
ILLICIT DRUGS
46% used cannabis for 20 or more days in the 30D before custody

10. DRUG USE BEFORE CUSTODY and IN CUSTODY
(%)
Before custody
EVER in custody
LAST 12M in custody
LAST 30D in custody

11. Cannabis DRUG USE IN CUSTODY Drug use inside facilities Ever: 23%
Last 12M: 22%
Last 30D: 13%
Cannabis
1 – 3 days in the last 30 days

12. DRUG INJECTING AND OTHER HEALTH RISK BEHAVIOURS
Injection without
medical purposes (EVER)
4% (N=6)
1 participant reported injection in custody (outside)
HEALTH STATUS
1 participant reported an overdose that required professional intervention: cocaine (before custody)

13. Conclusions In comparison with students from the regular schools
Prevalence of alcohol drinking among the youngest seems to be higher in young offenders
Prevalence of illicit drugs seems to be higher, widespread use of cannabis
Cannabis use seems to be more frequent
In custody,
Reports of alcohol drinking and illicit drugs (cannabis) use, mainly outside facilities
Inside, more common use of illicit drugs than alcohol
1 in 4 maintain illicit substances use but with less frequency

14. Thank you for your attention
Research Team
Ludmila Carapinha, Catarina Guerreiro, Carla Ribeiro, Liliana Ferreira
The research team wishes to thank:
the General-Directorate for Reinsertion and Prison Settings,
the staff of the Custodial Facilities
the participants in the study
Colleagues from SICAD/DEI
Thank you for your attention