Background: Despite high rates of substance use among justice-involved populations, the use of substance screening tools in justice settings varies.
Methods: Data are from the National Jail Health Care Study, which surveyed jails across the U.S. about their health care practices (n=371). Jails were asked to voluntarily submit their medical intake forms. A content analysis of intake forms (n=63) specific to questions about substance use was completed.
Results: Seventy-three percent (73%) of intake forms used non-standardized questions to assess current substance use, and 27% did not ask any questions about substance use. Alcohol use was most assessed (52%), followed by tobacco (30%), and marijuana (22%). Less than 11% of jails asked about use of opioids and 40% of forms asked about withdrawal history.
Conclusions: The lack of adequate substance use screening in jails hinders identification of substance use disorders, potential for withdrawal symptoms, and appropriate connection to treatment resources.