A Perspective on Using the Addiction Severity Index in Prison Populations

ABSTRACT

Despite significant social efforts to reduce substance-related imprisonment, the United States prison population continues to have high percentages of individuals who suffer from substance use disorders. This already marginalized group continues to make up substantial portions of the incarcerated population. This perspective paper overviews the Alcohol Severity Index (ASI) and its use within incarcerated populations. It highlights several shortcomings of the assessment, including validity, time of the assessment, the window of detection, and individual inmate consequences due to high assessment scores. In addition, it advocates for change within the assessment process of substance use disorders within the prison population that would navigate toward better outcomes for both inmates and the prison system.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol severity index
• prison
• substance abuse

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.