Recent bulletins from the 
drug and alcohol Bank:
Single question enough to identify most heavy drinking offenders At English prisons, police stations and probation offices, offenders and arrestees in this study usually scored as at least hazardous drinkers and over half as problematic on the AUDIT drink problem questionnaire; nearly all would have been identified by a much briefer screening method usually requiring just a single question.
Despite senior support most detainees not screened for risky drinking Risky drinking was widespread among the disorder and assault suspects screened for alcohol problems and (as indicated) offered brief advice by civilian staff at a police station in north east England, but despite senior officer support, they constituted just a quarter of the arrestees intended to have been screened.
Screening offenders for risky drinking not a priority in Scotland Though drinking problems were widespread, Scottish probation and community service staff were unconvinced of the appropriateness of screening their offender clients for risky drinking and (if indicated) offering brief advice. Not a priority, was the common feeling.
Previous Findings bulletins suggested alcohol-related offending measures do work, but also that Probation resources too stretched to adequately tackle huge drink problem.
Last year the Centre for Mental Health called for more support for offenders with alcohol problems.See here for further Offender Health publications and links on the Alcohol Learning Centre.
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