The Role of the Social Environment in Alcohol or Drug Relapse of Probationers Recently Released from Jail.

OBJECTIVES: Many individuals involved with the criminal justice system also meet criteria for a substance use disorder. Social support has been identified as an important factor in alcohol and drug relapse, and also for individuals who are incarcerated. The purposes of this study were to describe personal characteristics and the social networks of adult male probationers with substance use disorders and test how changes in social networks related to alcohol or drug use after release from jail.

METHODS: Fifty adult male probationers who were recently incarcerated (60 to 210 days prior to screening) were recruited from a large Southwest Probation and Parole Division office, and were administered a single assessment that assessed demographic information, social networks, and quantity and frequency of alcohol and drug use before and after incarceration.

RESULTS: In this sample there was an over-representation of ethnic minorities, higher rates of unemployment, lower educational levels, and lower median income than national averages. Results showed that there were significant changes in social networks from pre- to post-incarceration. Additionally, changes in social networks significantly predicted substance use after release from jail, even after controlling for substance use prior to incarceration, and the percentage of social network members who were heavy drug users mediated percent days abstinent from alcohol and drugs from pre- to post-incarceration.

CONCLUSIONS: Social networks and social support may operate as dynamic factors in relapse, and may be a target for intervention for adult males with substance use disorders being released from jail.