Prevalence and correlates of alcohol dependence in adult prisoners vary according to Indigenous status

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and identify independent correlates of alcohol dependence among Indigenous and non- Indigenous adult prisoners in Queensland. Methods: A confidential, cross-sectional survey of 1,155 adult prisoners (n=274 Indigenous, n=881 non-Indigenous) in seven adult prisons in Queensland. The usual alcohol consumption in the year before prison was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); scores ?20 are considered consistent with alcohol dependence. Results: Indigenous prisoners were significantly more likely than non- Indigenous prisoners to report patterns of alcohol consumption consistent with dependence. Separate multivariable analyse..