Substance Abuse, Violent Behavior, and Police Encounters among Persons with Severe Mental Disorder

Abstract

In this sample of 331 people with severe mental disorders, 20% reported being arrested or picked up by police for a crime at some time in the 4-month period before their hospital admission, most commonly for alcohol or drug offenses or crimes of public disorder (e.g., loitering or trespassing). Risk of a police encounter was significantly related to (a) recent use of alcohol or drugs and (b) recent violent behavior. However, substance use appeared to be related to police encounters only when medication noncompliance was also involved. Thus, violent behavior and the combination of medication noncompliance and substance use significantly increased the odds of a police encounter.