Comparing substance use patterns of aboriginal and non-aboriginal women offenders

Women's Computerized Assessment of Substance Abuse (W-CASA) data demonstrate that Aboriginal women have greater substance use issues than non-Aboriginal women with respect to severity, poly-substance use, and injection drug use. Other research has shown that Aboriginal women also report higher rates of HIV/HCV infection^{Footnote 1}, which in addition to their injection drug use, highlights the need for public health interventions.

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) ensures that Aboriginal women have access to targeted treatment interventions that address their criminogenic needs, including substance abuse - in particular, the multi-target Aboriginal Women Offender Correctional Program. CSC also has a comprehensive and holistic Aboriginal Health Strategy that, together with the public health policy, ensures health promotion and disease prevention for substance users and non-substance users alike.

• On average, Aboriginal women were younger than non-Aboriginal women when they first tried alcohol (13 years vs. 16 years) and drugs (14 years vs. 16 years).
• A greater proportion of Aboriginal women than non-Aboriginal women had an identified substance use issue (94% vs. 71%). In particular, Aboriginal women were more likely to have a moderate or substantial to severe substance use issue (see Figure).

Figure. Severity of substance use problem

Fewer non-Aboriginal women reported a lifetime use of both alcohol and drugs (59% vs. 85%).

• Fifty-three percent of Aboriginal women reported combining alcohol and drugs on the same day, compared to 26% of non-Aboriginal women. Patterns of use of more than one type of drug on the same day were similar (51% vs. 29%).
• Almost half (47%) of Aboriginal women indicated a history of injection drug use, compared to 24% of non-Aboriginal women. Among these women, fewer Aboriginal women shared needles (47% vs. 57%).

Aboriginal offenders, especially women, are disproportionately represented among federal offenders and are identified as having higher levels of need, particularly in the area of substance use. That said, little is known about differences in the scope and nature of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women offenders' substance use.

The W-CASA assesses substanceuse issues of women offenders upon admission to federal custody. In total, 279 Aboriginal and 683 non-Aboriginal womencompleted the W-CASA between February 2010 and February 2014.^{Footnote 2}

Please e-mail the Research Branch or contactus by phone at (613) 995-3975.

You can also visit the websitefor a full list of researchpublications.

Prepared by: Shanna Farrell MacDonald