Comparison of drug-using experiences among female inmates by age groups in Taiwan

The major purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics and drug-using experiences among female inmates by age groups in Taiwan. A census survey for female inmates in the prisons was conducted in 2007 using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire in group settings directed by our interviewers. A total of 2,486 female inmates were recruited in the present survey and the response rate was 82.5%. Among the female inmate subjects, 67.3% had ever used illicit drugs and 44.9% were recidivists. Based on the life-cycle time period, we divided those subjects ever used illicit drug (n=1,672) into childbearing age women (less than 50; 95.8%), menopausal women (age 51 to 64; 2.2%), and elderly women (age 65 and above; 2.0%). Results of bivariate analyses revealed that significant differences were found among three age groups in terms of the average age of initiation drug use, self-reported health status, used drug during pregnancy, and proportion of type and method of drug use. The average age of initiation drug use in each group was 22.0±6.8, 40.3±7.1, and 25.5±9.6 year-old, respectively. The prevalence of not quitting illicit drug use during any pregnancy was 32%, 17%, and 22%. The proportion of using injection as the main method of drug use in each group was respectively 82%, 57%, and 75%. The poor health status among the groups was 5.8%, 30.6%, and 14.7%, respectively. The study findings suggest that tailored health education counseling related to substance use should be enhanced by age groups among the incarcerated female population.