The Authors’ Own Words: “Being able to speak,” What individuals in jail perceived as helpful about participating in alcohol-related brief interventions

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

“Being able to speak,” What individuals in jail perceived as helpful about participating in alcohol-related brief interventions

Mandy D. Owens, PhD; Megan Kirouac, MS; Kylee Hagler, MS; Lauren N. Rowell, MS; & Emily C. Williams, PhD, MPH

Substance Abuse Vol. 39, Iss. 3, 2018

“Individuals with substance use disorders who are incarcerated in jails are understudied and there is a need to improve treatments for this population. The current study showed that individuals in jails who have substance use disorders found it helpful to talk individually with someone else about their own situations, and that other aspects also were beneficial, such as watching educational videos and discussing plans for release. These results highlight the benefits of eliciting feedback from individuals with substance use disorders to inform future treatment efforts, and suggest that these individuals are open to therapeutic interventions while they are in jail.”