Met and unmet prison-based treatment needs for people who are incarcerated with a history of substance use disorder: A nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders (SUD) are highly prevalent among incarcerated people. However, in some prisons, only a small percentage of those who need treatment receive it. The aims of this study were to examine coverage of treatment for SUD in Danish prisons and assess whether treatment differed by substance class. Further, we examined factors associated with receiving treatment for SUD, and types of services received. DATA AND METHODS: We linked multiple Danish register data using unique personal identification numbers. This study retrospectively analysed data for 49,330 individuals (aged 18-90) incarcerated in Danish prisons between 2008 and 2018. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to predict enrolment in treatment for SUD in prison. RESULTS: Of incarcerated people with a history of SUD, 34.6 % received treatment care during incarceration. We observed only minor variations in terms of substance classes concerning the type of treatment. Those who were women, immigrants, had higher education, or were married were less likely to receive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Improving access and increasing treatment coverage in the Danish Prison and Probation Services is crucial to reduce the burden of SUD in incarcerated populations.

Is proximity to alcohol outlets associated with alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in Denmark?

BACKGROUND: This study examined the associations between distance from residence to the nearest alcohol outlet with alcohol consumption as well as with alcohol-related harm. METHODS: Data on alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harm and sociodemographics were obtained from the 2011 Danish Drug and Alcohol Survey (n = 5133) with respondents aged 15-79 years. The information on distances from residence to the nearest alcohol outlets was obtained from Statistics Denmark. Multiple logistic and linear regressions were used to examine the association between distances to outlets and alcohol consumption whereas alcohol-related harm was analysed using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: Among women it was found that those living closer to alcohol outlets were more likely to report alcohol-related harm (p < 0.05). This was not true for men. No association was found between distances to outlets and alcohol consumption (volume of drinking and risky single occasion drinking). CONCLUSIONS: This study found some support for an association between closer distances between place of residence and alcohol outlets and alcohol-related harm for women. Future studies in the Nordic region should continue to examine the association between physical alcohol availability (nearest distance to an outlet and outlet densities) and alcohol consumption as well as alcohol-related problems using different outlet types.

'Make it another for me and my mates': Does social capital encourage risky drinking among the Danish general population?

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between several indicators of social capital and risky single occasion drinking (RSOD) in a representative survey sample of the Danish general population. METHODS: Data from the 2011 Danish national survey (n=2569) with respondents aged 15-79 years were used. Ordered logit modelling was applied to investigate the influence of social networks, social support, social participation and trust on RSOD. RESULTS: A strong positive relationship was found between frequency of contact with male friends and RSOD between both sexes. Furthermore, social trust among men and membership in voluntary organisations among women was significantly associated with RSOD. Additionally, contact with male family members for women and active participation in religious services for both sexes were strongly and negatively correlated with RSOD. CONCLUSIONS: Some aspects of social capital can be positively related to at-risk health behaviours, as was found for RSOD in the Danish general population.

To Cause Harm and to be Harmed by Others: New Perspectives on Alcohol's Harms to Others.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how sociodemographic factors and alcohol consumption are related to a four-way typology of causing harm to others and/or being harmed by others' and one's own drinking. DATA AND METHODS: Data from the 2011 Danish national survey (n = 2,569) were analyzed with multi nomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Younger age and heavy drinking were significant correlates of both causing harm and being harmed. Women and better educated respondents were more likely to report negative effects on relationship and family from another's drinking. Better educated respondents had higher risks for work, financial, or injury harms from another's drinking. Mean alcohol consumption and risky single occasion drinking were related to both causing harm and being harmed from one's own drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Drinking variables were the strongest correlates of causing harm and being harmed. Efforts to reduce risky drinking may also help reduce exposures to collateral harm.