New Hennepin County Jail Drug Numbers Released

Editor's note: The following article was released by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

A new federal study has found that 68.2 percent of all adult males booked into the Hennepin County jail tested positive for illegal drug use, according to a federal study conducted in 2011. The study measures drug use that occurred prior to arrest.

In the Hennepin County Jail, the study found that the youngest men booked into jail had the biggest shift in drug use. For inmates age 21 and younger, there was an increase in the use of Oxycodone this year. This reflects the national epidemic of prescription drug abuse among young people. Oxycodone is a narcotic commonly found in prescription painkillers. The study found that for the youngest inmates, 5.6 percent used Oxycodone prior to arrest. In the previous study, none in that age group had used Oxycodone.

The youngest men in jail showed a decrease in the use of cocaine and methamphetamine. In the study, there were none who had used either drug prior to arrest. In a previous 2010 study, among the young inmates, there were 7 percent who had used cocaine and 3.5 percent who had used meth. 

Another change among the youngest inmates is that more of them are using a combination of drugs, instead of one drug. Twice as many young inmates tested positive for multiple illegal drugs, according to a comparison between this recent study and last year’s study.

“Taking illegal drugs in combination is extremely dangerous behavior,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. “I’m concerned to see this increasing at an alarming rate among young inmates.”

According to the data, the most commonly detected drug at the time of arrest among all male inmates is marijuana, followed by cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine and Oxycodone. Drug use among the arrestee population is much higher than in the general population. Among those arrested for a violent crime entering the jail, more than 62 percent tested positive for drug use.

This study provides preliminary numbers for 2011. The results from a second study at the jail will be published in a few months and will provide final statistics for 2011. The Hennepin County jail is one of ten sites nationwide where an annual federal study measures drug use among arrestees within 48 hours of their arrest. People who have been arrested have volunteered to be interviewed for the study, and the information they provide is verified with drug testing.  

The Hennepin County jail books arrestees from all 36 law enforcement agencies in the county. The study, Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program (ADAM II), is conducted by a research group on behalf of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

If an arrestee tests positive for drugs such as cocaine, meth or heroin, it indicates the arrestee has used the drug within a few days prior to arrest because those drugs remain detectable in the body for 3-4 days. Marijuana can be detected in the body for about a month after use.  

Information about drug use trends among arrestees in the Hennepin County jail can be helpful for Sheriff’s Office personnel who manage the inmate population. Most inmates who are booked into the jail have used drugs in recent days or weeks, and some may still be under the influence of an illicit drug when they enter the facility. Those inmates may have behavior issues, and they may require additional supervision from deputies or inmates may go into drug withdrawal and require medical attention.  

The Hennepin County jail is required to provide medically-necessary treatment to inmates. Though arrestees have taken the illegal drugs prior to their arrest, the after-effects of the drugs may prompt medical problems many days later when they are in jail. Withdrawal symptoms may include dehydration or seizure.

Total Testing Positive (All age groups)