International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 56(8) 1201–1219 © The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permission: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0306624X11420252 http://ijo.sagepub.com 420252IJO 56 8 10.1177/0306624X11420252Kraanen et al.International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 1 University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands 2 Forensic outpatient clinic De Waag, the Netherlands Corresponding Author: Fleur L. Kraanen, University of Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Forensic Outpatient Clinic De Waag, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, Netherlands Email: F.L.Kraanen@uva.nl Substance Use Disorders in Forensic Psychiatry: Differences Among Different Types of Offenders Fleur L. Kraanen 1,2 , Agnes Scholing 1,2 , and Paul M. G. Emmelkamp 1,2 Abstract This is the first study that compared different types of offenders in forensic outpatient treatment (i.e., offenders of general violence [GV], intimate partner violence [IPV], sex crimes, and “other offenses” such as drug smuggling and property crimes) regarding the prevalence of substance use disorders at the time of the offense. In total, 35.8% of participants (n = 187) were diagnosed with any substance use disorder. Specifically, 61.5% of GV perpetrators, 30.9% of IPV perpetrators, 9.1% of sex offenders, and 26.7% of “other offenders” were diagnosed with substance abuse or dependence. More GV offenders and less sex offenders fulfilled diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder. Furthermore, 29.9% of the offenders were intoxicated by substances at the moment they committed the offense (48.5% of GV perpetrators, 25.0% of IPV perpetrators, 17.4% of sex offenders, and 21.0% of other offenders). More GV perpetrators were intoxicated during the offense. As there is a clear association between substance abuse and criminal behavior, substance abuse in offenders should be assessed and, if present, be treated. Keywords offenders, forensic psychiatry, substance use disorders, alcohol, drugs In the past year, 5.6% of the population in the Netherlands was diagnosed with any substance use disorder (De Graaf, Ten Have, & Van Dorsselaer, 2010). Somewhat higher prevalence figures were found in the United States, where 8.5% was diagnosed