[Drug use when entering prison: comparison between the spanish and foreign prison inmate population]

There are few studies comparing drug use behaviours between the local and immigrant prison populations.

Descriptive and prospective study. Comparisons were made between the Spanish and foreign population of prisoners who entered prison for the first time between 01/01/2005 and 31/12/2005. Socio-demographic descriptive variables were attained along with data about drug use in the month prior to entry into prison. X² was used to compare qualitative variables and Student's t distribution for quantitative ones. Posterior binary logistic regression was used for calculating the Odds Ration for statistically significant variables.

246 individuals were included, 230 (93.5%) were men. 89 (36%) were Spanish and 157 (64%) foreigners. The average age was 31.9 (IC95%: 30.6-33.1). The average age was higher amongst Spanish inmates (33.9 vs. 30.7; p=0.023). Spanish inmates smoked less (79, 40.9%) than foreigners (114, 59.1%) p=0.003 and consumed less alcohol (51, 42.5% vs. 69, 57.5%), p=0.044. The use of heroin, cocaine, designer drugs and non-prescribed benzodiazepines, individually or in combinations, was admitted to by 68 individuals, 44 (64.7%) of whom were Spanish, and 24 (35.3%) were foreigners (OR: 5.4, IC95%: 2.9-9.9, p>0.0001). The only consumption type where no significant difference between the two groups could be seen was in "designer drug" use: 5 (5.6%) vs. 2 (1.3%). (OR: 4.6, IC95%: 0.8-24.3, p=0.07). IVD use was rare and more common amongst Spanish inmates: 3 (3.4%) vs. 0 (0%) (p=0.02).

Foreigners make up the majority of the recent intake into prison. Spanish prisoners are older. Spanish inmates consume more illegal drugs, while foreign prisoners consume more socially accepted drugs.