Prison as a Modifier of Drug Using Behaviour

Abstract

This study was intended to investigate the nature and dynamics of drug using behaviour in Scottish prisons. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with a purposive sample of 234 prisoners in four major adult male prisons in Scotland. Of this sample, 73% had used cannabis during their current sentence, and 95% of these reported ongoing usage. There was little evidence to suggest that people started to inject in prison. Of this sample, 32% were injecting prior to imprisonment, and 11 % had done so during their current sentence. Of those who were injecting prior to imprisonment, 24% were sharing injecting equipment. Of those who were injecting in prison, 76% were sharing equipment. Factors most closely identified with current sharing of injecting equipment were: having injected a wider range of drugs in prison (during both current and previous sentences); frequency of Temgesic (Buprenorphine) use; being prescribed methadone in the community, then having that prescription discontinued on entry to prison....