The changing picture of XXXX problems among Finnish prisoners.

@entity1 @entity988 @entity167 @entity734
PURPOSE: Marginalized @entity1 are often absent from population surveys of substance use and from research based on care data. Special methods are needed to reach these small but very significant groups. This study analyses how patterns of intoxicant use have changed over time among one of the most marginalized group of @entity1 , the prisoners. METHODS: Nationally representative samples of Finnish prisoners were examined: 903 prisoners in 1985, 325 prisoners in 1992, and 410 prisoners in 2006. Comprehensive field studies consisting of interviews and a clinical medical examination were used. RESULTS: In 1985, a diagnosis for @entity988 was given to 41% of the @entity1 and 36% of the @entity1 prisoners. An increase over time was observed, and in 2006, 52% of @entity1 and 51% of @entity1 prisoners were @entity167 dependent. @entity734 on a drug was diagnosed in 6% of @entity1 and 3% of @entity1 in 1985; this prevalence had increased to 58% of @entity1 and 60% of @entity1 in 2006. CONCLUSIONS: A dramatic change in prevalence of illegal drug use and @entity734 among prisoners has taken place in the past 20  years. Recognizing this shift from @entity167 to other intoxicants is important since drugs are illegal substances and thus tend to lead to involvement with the judicial sector, thus stigmatizing and deepening the spiral of marginalization.
