By JJ Hensley
The Arizona Republic
MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — After years of research, a robust picture has started to emerge about Maricopa County inmates.
More than 30 percent tested positive for marijuana or methamphetamine, nearly 30 percent have been told by a professional that they suffer from a mental illness, and they are 50 to 80 percent more likely to be infected with gonorrhea than the general population, according to a new study.
The trick now is figuring out what to do with the data Arizona State University researchers are developing on Maricopa County inmates.
Health officials hope the STD research will become a model for developing programs to test and treat inmates for ailments they bring with them or acquire in jail.
Full Story: High risk of STDs found in Maricopa County jails