Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6, 3056-3069; doi:10.3390/ijerph6123056 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Article Assessment of Japanese Stimulant Control Law Offenders Using the Addiction Severity Index—Japanese Version: Comparison with Patients in Treatment Settings Takashi Watanabe 1,2,#, Yasukazu Ogai 3,#, Takehiro Koga 2, Eiichi Senoo 4, Kazuhiko Nakamura 1, Norio Mori 1 and Kazutaka Ikeda 3,* 1 Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan; E-Mails: takashi_matuki@yahoo.co.jp (T.W.); nakamura@hama-med.ac.jp (K.N.); morin@hama-med.ac.jp (N.M.) 2 Shizuoka Prison, 3-1-1 Higashichiyoda, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, Japan; E-Mail: kg-ronnie@fmwbs.jp 3 Division of Psychobiology, Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, 2-1-8 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8585, Japan; E-Mail: y-oogai@prit.go.jp 4 Division of Social Psychiatry, Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, 2-1-8 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8585, Japan; E-Mail: senoo@prit.go.jp # These authors contributed equally to this study. * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ikedak@prit.go.jp; Tel: +81-3-3304-5701 ext. 508; Fax: +81-3-3329-8035. Received: 9 November 2009 / Accepted: 29 November 2009 / Published: 3 December 2009 Abstract: The present study assessed problems in Japanese prisoners (inmates) who abused methamphetamine. Fifty-two male inmates were assessed in 2005–2007 using the Addiction Severity Index-Japanese version and compared with 55 male methamphetamine abusers in hospitals and recovery centers. The 2 and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests showed that the inmates had a significantly lower education level, more frequently had full-time jobs, had more experience living with a sexual partner, and more frequently had a history of juvenile delinquency and criminal records than patients. Although psychiatric symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and hallucinations, were not common among inmates, suicidal behavior and trouble controlling violence were common in both groups.