1 - National Criminal Justice Reference Service

Why San Diego maintains higher rates of drug use than other urban
cities is a question yet to be addressed. Speculative reasons are
associated with geography: including relativ~ly easy access by land, air,
and sea, enhancing the potential for drug smuggling; several hundred
miles of rural terrain conducive to clandestine labs and growing of
marijuana; and proximity to Mexico, which attracts drug traffickers and
contributes to wide availability of black tar heroin. The jail crowding
situation in San Diego may be another factor related to high drug use
among the offender population in that only the most serious criminal
offenders are booked into jail. Early release pro~edures result in
convicted offenders who do not serve their full sentence. Both of these
situations may send a message to offenders that San .Diego justice is
neither swift nor certain. Therefore, their drug use poses little risk.
The DlIr: interview provides the opportunity to ask arrestees other
questions. For example, San Diego arrestees are asked if they have
been arrested previously. Over 60% or more each quarter report prior
arrests (not shown). Females are asked if they are pregnant at the time
of the interview. Their responses are tabulated by drug result. In the
last two quarters of 1991,42% of the women who indicated they were
pregnant were also drug positive (not shown).
These findings suggest that drug use among the offender population
remains a serious problem in San Diego. It is of interest that the drugabusing
population that poses the most significant threat to the person
and property of others is the population least likely to be identified as
needing drug treatment. Mandatory drug treatment has been shown to
be effective in other jurisdictions. Efficient drug treatment referrals for
arrestees should be undertaken immediately. Many arrestees report a
need for treatment at the time of the DUF interview. The association
between drug use is complex yet real. Until drug abuse among
offenders is addressed in this region, our current crime levels probably
will not be reduced significantly.
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