Neighborhood disorder and incarceration history among urban substance users

Damiya Whitaker, Camelia Graham, C. Debra Furr-Holden, Ada Milam, William Latimer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This research examines the relationship between neighborhood physical and social disorder and incarceration history among urban drug users. A cohort of 358 African American and White urban drug users completed a clinical interview and psychological assessment that emphasized cognitive and social-behavioral HIV risk factors. The Neighborhood Inventory for Environmental Typology was used to assess indicators of physical and social disorder. After controlling for age, gender, education, and having a place to live, multivariable analyses revealed that living in a neighborhood with moderate or high levels of disorder (odds ratio [OR] = 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.02, 2.59]) and drinking alcohol every day or nearly every day for 3 months or more (OR = 2.03; 95% CI [1.24, 3.31]) were associated with incarceration history. Findings suggest that select characteristics of disadvantaged communities may be important determinants of incarceration vulnerability among urban substance users. Residential improvements hold promise to enhance interventions aimed to reduce incarceration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)309-318
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Correctional Health Care
Volume17
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2011

Keywords

  • incarceration
  • neighborhood disorder
  • substance use
  • urban drug/alcohol use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Community and Home Care
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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