The Role of Cognition, Impulsivity, and Age in Program Violations in a Federal Prison Substance Abuse Treatment Facility: A Preliminary Report

Few studies have examined the role of cognition and outcomes among substance abusers in prison settings. To extend the literature, this study examined the relationship among cognition, impulsivity, and the incidence of program violations in a federal substance abuse treatment program. One hundred and twenty individuals entering a federal drug treatment program underwent a brief screening battery. Participants were administered the Trail Making Tests Parts A and B, Digit Symbol subtests, and the Jackson impulsivity tests. This study failed to find a relationship between cognition, impulsivity, and program violations. The study did, however, find a significant relationship between age and program violations. These findings suggest that being younger is a risk factor for program violations within the substance abuse treatment program.