Characteristics of drug misusers in custody and their perceptions of medical care

Substance misuse detainees in custody are a common problem for forensic physicians. Studies have shown that forensic physicians have negative attitudes towards misusers in custody. Inconsistent information may be given by the detainee to acquire some perceived secondary gain. Therefore, it is difficult for the examining physician to gain an impartial insight into the detainees' expectations of their medical management. This study was undertaken to explore the detainees' expectations of their medical management by administration of a questionnaire using drug referral workers who are independent of the police and the forensic physician. The practical difficulties of producing such a survey and the results are discussed.