Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6 3064 Table 5. Cont. Trouble understanding, concentrating, or remembering (a) Trouble controlling violent behavior (b) Serious suicidal thoughts (b) Suicide attempts (b) Prescribed medication (b) 18 (34.6) 20 (38.5) 22 (42.3) 13 (25) 16 (30.8) 18 (32.7) 28 (50.9) 29 (52.7) 18 (32.7) 40 (72.7) n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. p < 0.001*** n, number of participants; n.s., not significant Note: According to the ASI counting rule, (a) counts only long-lasting symptoms lasting more than three months, and (b) counts symptoms that do not last long. The 2 test was used for statistical comparisons. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 3.5. Variables Related to Drug Abuse Severity Similarities and differences were observed between the two groups in correlations between the drug use CS and some of the other variables. In both groups, the psychiatric status CS (inmates: r = 0.410, p < 0.05; patients: r = 0.283, p < 0.05) and the number of days that participants experienced psychological and emotional problems in the past 30 days (inmates: r = 0.374, p < 0.05; patients: r = 0.274, p < 0.05) were significantly and positively correlated with the drug use CS. For inmates, the legal status CS (r = 0.328, p < 0.05), days of alcohol problems in the past 30 days (r = 0.309, p < 0.05), and subjective feelings of trouble with alcohol problems in the past 30 days (r = 0.283, p < 0.05) were significantly and positively correlated with the drug use CS. Additionally, the number of close friends (r = −0.276, p < 0.05) and serious problems with their children in the past 30 days (r = -0.366, p < 0.05) were significantly and negatively correlated with the drug use CS. For patients, the employment/support status CS (r = 0.281, p < 0.05), treatment for any psychological and emotional problems in a hospital (r = 0.352, p < 0.05), and serious depression in the past 30 days (r = 0.383, p < 0.01) were significantly and positively correlated with the drug use CS. 4. Discussion 4.1. Characteristics of Methamphetamine Abusers In the present study, significant differences were found in the backgrounds and characteristics of Stimulant Control Law inmates and participants from treatments settings. The CSs of inmates were higher for drug use and legal status and lower for employment/support and psychiatric symptoms than patients. A relatively high CS for drug status in the inmates would be attributable to their use of illegal drugs in the 30 days before arrest. Interestingly, inmates abused more frequently and spent more money on both methamphetamine and alcohol than patients. Significant correlations were observed between some items related to alcohol problems and the drug use CS in inmates. These results are consistent with the results of Russell et al. [22], indicating that a history of alcohol use is one of the risk factors