A recent study in Addiction Science & Clinical Practice analyzed 43,553 urine drug screens that were given in 25 jails in the United States in 2023, finding that 75% tested positive for at least one drug. Among the tests that were positive, 69% were positive for marijuana, 55% for stimulants, 30% for opioids, and 12% for sedatives.
The study found that “adolescent and young adult arrestees produced significantly more positive UDS results than expected for cannabis, while adult and senior arrestees produced significantly fewer positive results for cannabis than expected.” Additionally, “White and Asian arrestees produced significantly fewer positive UDS results for cannabis than expected if there was no effect of race, whereas Black arrestees produced significantly more.”
The methodology noted, “drug use was studied only among arrestees self-reporting drug use, believed to be at risk for withdrawal, possibly in need of detoxification, and who agreed to submit a sample for [urine drug screen] within the context of this carceral healthcare delivery system.” Thus, the results are not representative of the entire population of those involved with the criminal justice system.
The authors explained that “jails can serve as vital healthcare touchpoints by implementing evidence-based interventions such as medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), standardized withdrawal management, and routine substance use screening.” They added that jail-based screening and treatment programs can act as a “pivotal entry point for broader substance use treatment.”
Recognizing that the prevalence of drug use among arrestees is significantly higher than the rate among the general population, the authors concluded that “jails play a critical role in addressing drug use within communities by providing healthcare services that include screening, assessment, withdrawal management, and in-house treatment programs.”