Abstract
IntroductionE-cigarettes were one measure introduced to help people in custody (PiC) to prepare for and cope with implementation of comprehensive smokefree policies in Scottish prisons. Our earlier study explored experiences of vaping when e-cigarettes were first introduced and most participants were dual tobacco and e-cigarette users. Here we present findings of a subsequent study of vaping among a different sample of PiC when use of tobacco was prohibited in prison, and smokefree policy had become the norm.MethodsTwenty-eight qualitative interviews were conducted with PiC who were current or former users of e-cigarettes in prison, 6–10 months after implementation of a smokefree policy. Data were managed and analyzed using the framework approach.ResultsPiC reported that vaping helped with mandated smoking abstinence. However, findings suggest that some PiC may be susceptible to heavy e-cigarette use potentially as a consequence of high nicotine dependence and situational factors such as e-cigarette product choice and availability in prisons; issues with nicotine delivery; prison regimes; and use of e-cigarettes for managing negative emotions. These factors may act as barriers to cutting down or stopping use of e-cigarettes by PiC who want to make changes due to dissatisfaction with vaping or lack of interest in continued use of nicotine, cost, and/or health concerns.ConclusionsE-cigarettes helped PiC to cope with smokefree rules, although concerns about e-cigarette efficacy, cost, and safety were raised. PiC may desire or benefit both from conventional smoking cessation programs and from interventions to support reduction, or cessation, of vaping.ImplicationsFindings highlight successes, challenges, and potential solutions in respect of use of e-cigarettes to cope with mandated smoking abstinence in populations with high smoking prevalence and heavy nicotine dependence. Experiences from prisons in Scotland may be of particular interest to health and/or justice services in other jurisdictions, with similar legislation on e-cigarettes to the United Kingdom, who are planning for institutional smokefree policies in their prisons or inpatient mental health settings in the future.
Highlights
E-cigarettes were one measure introduced to help people in custody (PiC) to prepare for and cope with implementation of comprehensive smokefree policies in Scottish prisons
Findings suggest that some PiC may be susceptible to heavy e-cigarette use potentially as a consequence of high nicotine dependence and situational factors such as e-cigarette product choice and availability in prisons; issues with nicotine delivery; prison regimes; and use of e-cigarettes for managing negative emotions.These factors may act as barriers to cutting down or stopping use of e-cigarettes by PiC who want to make changes due to dissatisfaction with vaping or lack of interest in continued use of nicotine, cost, and/or health concerns
Air quality measurements across Scottish prisons showed a drop of around 90% in secondhand smoke levels compared with measurements taken before the decision to implement the smokefree policy,[14] confirming that it led to the virtual elimination of secondhand smoke,[15] with expected health benefits for staff and PiC
Summary
E-cigarettes were one measure introduced to help people in custody (PiC) to prepare for and cope with implementation of comprehensive smokefree policies in Scottish prisons. Cultural, and psychological functions in prisons, such as maintaining personal or group identities, as a means of coping with boredom, environmental stressors, or poor mental health, and as a form of currency.[1,2,3,4] Given this, and beliefs that prohibition of smoking reduces the already limited choices of people in custody (PiC) and so may be seen as a “punishment” and is likely to cause hardship and other difficulties in prisons,[5,6,7] it is unsurprising that there is lower support for smokefree policies among PiC than among staff.[8] it is important to note a substantial minority of PiC are more supportive of smokefree rules[8] because of desires to quit smoking or perceptions that changes in smoking policy are beneficial for themselves and others.[7,8] The availability of e-cigarettes in smokefree prisons has the potential to ameliorate possible challenges of no smoking rules for PiC who are unwilling or unable to stop use of nicotine, and may improve the health of a disadvantaged group if e-cigarettes are used for harm reduction in the longer term. Air quality measurements across Scottish prisons showed a drop of around 90% in secondhand smoke levels compared with measurements taken before the decision to implement the smokefree policy,[14] confirming that it led to the virtual elimination of secondhand smoke,[15] with expected health benefits for staff and PiC
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