People on Probation and Parole Have Much Higher Rates of Marijuana Dependence Than the General Population
Probationers and parolees were four to nine times more likely to have substance use disorders, including marijuana dependence, than people not under criminal justice supervision.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Using national survey data from 2002 to 2014, researchers found that people on probation or parole had dramatically higher rates of substance use disorders across every category compared to the general population.
Marijuana abuse and dependence were significantly elevated in this group, though alcohol-related disorders were still two to six times more common than marijuana-related ones. These elevated rates remained remarkably stable over the entire 12-year study period, showing no signs of improvement despite evolving drug policies.
Key risk factors for substance disorders in this population included being younger, male, having lower education, lower income, higher risk-taking tendencies, and involvement in crime or violence.
Key Numbers
Probationers and parolees had substance use disorder rates four to nine times higher than unsupervised peers. Alcohol abuse and dependence rates were two to six times higher than marijuana rates within the supervised population. Trends remained stable from 2002 to 2014.
How They Did This
The researchers analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a large nationally representative survey. They used logistic regression to examine eight distinct substance use disorder outcomes among probationers and parolees, controlling for demographic and behavioral variables.
Why This Research Matters
This research highlights a persistent gap in how the criminal justice system addresses substance use. Despite decades of awareness, substance use disorder rates among supervised populations have barely changed, suggesting that current approaches to treatment within the justice system are falling short.
The Bigger Picture
The stability of these rates over 12 years raises serious questions about whether the justice system is effectively connecting people to treatment. The authors argue that evidence-based programs like drug courts, which have demonstrated reductions in both drug use and recidivism, deserve more investment over punitive approaches.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
The NSDUH relies on self-reported data, which may undercount substance use in a population that has strong incentives to minimize reporting. The cross-sectional design cannot determine whether criminal justice involvement precedes or follows substance use disorders.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why have substance use disorder rates in this population remained flat for over a decade despite policy changes?
- ?Would expanded access to drug courts and treatment programs meaningfully reduce these rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 4-9x higher substance use disorder rates among probationers/parolees vs. general population
- Evidence Grade:
- Large nationally representative dataset with 12 years of trend data, but cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2016 using data through 2014, before many state-level legalization changes that may have shifted these patterns.
- Original Title:
- Trends and correlates of substance use disorders among probationers and parolees in the United States 2002-2014.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 167, 128-39 (2016)
- Authors:
- Fearn, Noelle E, Vaughn, Michael G(3), Nelson, Erik J, Salas-Wright, Christopher P, DeLisi, Matt, Qian, Zhengmin
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01150
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is marijuana dependence among people on probation or parole?
Significantly more common than in the general population, with rates four to nine times higher across all substance use disorder categories, including marijuana dependence.
Has the situation improved over time?
No. Substance use disorder rates among probationers and parolees remained remarkably stable from 2002 to 2014, showing little change despite evolving drug policies.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01150APA
Fearn, Noelle E; Vaughn, Michael G; Nelson, Erik J; Salas-Wright, Christopher P; DeLisi, Matt; Qian, Zhengmin. (2016). Trends and correlates of substance use disorders among probationers and parolees in the United States 2002-2014.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 167, 128-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.08.003
MLA
Fearn, Noelle E, et al. "Trends and correlates of substance use disorders among probationers and parolees in the United States 2002-2014.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.08.003
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Trends and correlates of substance use disorders among proba..." RTHC-01150. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/fearn-2016-trends-and-correlates-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.