Summary
The nexus between drug
use and crime is well established.
Offenders are considerably more likely
to use illicit drugs than the general
population, and a large proportion of
offenders attribute their criminal
offending to drug use, yet very little is
known about how to respond
effectively to drug problems among
police detainees.
Using data obtained through the Drug
Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA)
program, this paper explores the
readiness to change drug use and
help-seeking intentions of Australian
police detainees with drug problems.
The analysis revealed those detainees
most in need of drug treatment were
also those most ready to change their
drug use. The findings serve as a
reminder of the need and desire for
interventions for drug abuse among the
police detainee population, and have
implications for the development of
intervention strategies aimed at
reducing drug use among offender
populations.