APHA
Back to Annual Meeting
 		APHA 2006 APHA
Back to Annual Meeting
APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Developing research and researchers to address drugs and criminalization in African Americans

Lula Beatty, PhD, Special Populations Office, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6001 Executive Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301-435-1917, lbeatty@nida.nih.gov

Since the 1980s, there has been a rapid increase in the prison incarceration rate related to drug offenses. This increase has disproportionately affected Blacks. For example, in 1983, the rate of yearly admissions to prisons for a drug offense was less than 50 per 100,000 for Black, Hispanic, and white adults. By 2001, the rate for Black adults was nearly 400 per 100,000 adults compared to approximately 100 per 100,000 and 40 per 100,000 for Hispanic and white adults, respectively (Iguchi et al., 2005). This difference is seen in all forms of criminal justice supervision including parole, probation, and juvenile detention (Blankenship, et al., 2005). Given that epidemiologic data show no overall significant difference in drug use by race/ethnicity, this difference in consequence is troubling. The criminalization of drug use is a public health issue because the justice system has become a major provider of health care (drug and HIV treatment) especially for Blacks. Furthermore, correctional facilities may promote risky health behaviors, and persons exiting these settings bring these risky behaviors into their communities. Research is needed on identifying strategies to decrease criminalization of drug offenders (e.g., drug courts), understanding the health risks of criminalization to individuals and communities, and improving health services within criminal justice settings. The presenter will provide an overview of strengths and weaknesses of current research, identify areas of research needs, and describe opportunities at the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the support and development of students and researchers from underrepresented groups.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to