Addressing the High Rates of Mental Health Problems and Substance Abuse among Incarcerated Women
Victoria Espinoza, University of New Haven Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash  During the last five decades, the female offender population in the United States increased by more than 500% (Monazzam & Budd, 2023). Though smaller than the total male offender population, the rate of incarcerated women has remained double the rate of incarcerated men since the 1980s, and some argue this is partly due to the increased criminalization of drug use (Monazzam & Budd, 2023). Female inmates have presented vastly different needs than male inmates; many studies have found incarcerated women have higher rates of mental health issues and a greater likelihood to abuse substances (Haesen et al., 2019; Lynch et al., 2012; Lynch et al., 2013). Screening tools and treatment programs in correctional facilities for mental health and substance abuse have been found to be inadequate at addressing female offenders’ needs, leading to undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or ineffectively treated mental health and substance abuse issues (Wood, 2019).  This policy brief focuses on how to address the rising mental health and substance abuse rates among incarcerated women, which continue to outpace the rates of incarcerated men. First, the brief will discuss the history of mental illness and substance abuse in female prison and jail populations, and how gendered the approaches have been in the past. Focusing on areas that can be improved, this brief seeks to show screening improvements and integrated mental health and substance abuse programs with a focus on traumatization. Pre-existing approaches are explored and compared to new programs and initiatives that aim to address the issues discussed. In the country with the largest prison population in the world, addressing the needs of one of its most rapidly growing subpopulations is crucial. To illustrate, studies have shown treatment for mental health and substance abuse is highly correlated with successful reentry and lower recidivism risks (Fazel et al., 2016).  Statement of the Issue  Studies have found incarcerated women are more likely to struggle with substance abuse and their mental health than incarcerated men (Haesen et al., 2019; Lynch et al., 2012; Fazel et al., 2016). A 2017 Department of Justice (DOJ) report found female jail inmates were more likely to have a history of mental health issues (66% of females to 35% of males), as well as more likely to have serious psychological stress (Bronson & Berzofsky, 2017). The gendered trend continues for substance and alcohol abuse. A 2021 DOJ report found female inmates at the state level were more likely than male inmates to report drug use during the time of their offense and were more likely to have a substance use disorder in the past 12 months, while at the federal level, female inmates were more likely to report alcohol or substance use at the time of offense (Maruschak & Alper, 2021). Trauma has also been found to be prevalent in female offenders, and often intertwined with mental health and substance abuse disorders (Wood, 2019).
