[Psychoactive substance use among newly incarcerated prison inmates]

The objective of this study was to describe the population of incoming prisoners in Lyon's prisons and to estimate the proportion of those who are drug users in order to adapt the psychological care which is made available at the time of entrance. During the entrance interview briefing session, a questionnaire was given to each new adult male inmate between January 1st and December 31st 2003. The mean age of new prisoners was 31 years old: 68.5% did not have regular employment in the last 12 months prior to their incarceration, and 52.8% had already been previously imprisoned. More than 64.0% of inmates declared either a regular use, an abusive use or dependence on tobacco, 16.5% on cannabis, 16.1% on alcohol, 2.5% on psychotropic medication, and 4.1% on other drugs (heroine, cocaine, or synthetic drugs). Moreover, 42.0% of drug users declared either a regular use, abusive consumption or dependence on at least two psycho active substances. These results confirm the need for effective screening for drug use upon entry into prison as a means of ensuring that appropriate psychological and/or psychiatric care of drug users, which is suitably adapted to the prison environment, can be provided.