Drug Users In Prison Research Articles

Extent and patterns of drug use in prison in Burkina Faso: findings from a cross-sectional study in central prison of Ouagadougou

PurposeDrug use in prisons remains a public health concern because it is often the place of drug initiation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the drug use in prison in Burkina Faso.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted cross-sectional study in the prison of Ouagadougou. The adult prisoners (male and female) incarcerated for more than one month at the largest prison of Burkina Faso were included in the study. Participants were selected using a systematic random sampling. Data were collected from October 28 to November 26, 2018. The face-to-face interviews were conducted in the prison grounds. Logistic multivariate regression was used to identify factors associated with in prison drug use. All analysis was done using Stata.FindingsA total of 379 prisoners were included in this study. Approximately one-third inmates (32.71%; n = 124) experienced illicit drug in lifetime. Nearly one-third (28.76%; n = 109) of the prisoners were drug users before incarceration and 11.87% (n = 45) used drug inside the prison, of which 33.33% (n = 15) initiated drug use in the prison. Cannabis was the first drug used by the prisoners (71.11%) followed by tramadol (62.22%), diazepam (13.33%) and cocaine (2.22%). Four prisoners (3.63%) had reported Heroin use before incarceration. Cannabis was mainly smoked. Tramadol, diazepam and amphetamines were swallowed or mixed with food. Cocaine is smoked and snorted. Case of injection of cocaine and heroin was reported before incarceration. Main factors independently associated with drug use in prison is drug use before prison and young age of inmates. Indeed, inmates who had reported drug use before prison had 4.01 time {adjusted odd ratio (AOR: 4.01 [95% CI: 1.91–8.41])} higher odds to use drug in prison.Research limitations/implicationsTo conduct the interviews in the prison grounds could be a limitation due to social desirability bias. Indeed, the prisoners may understate drug use in prison for the fear of likely additional sentence. Availability of biological tests for drug markers might help addressed this bias. Nevertheless, the findings of this study should help to plan effective drug use prevention and care programs for prisoners.Practical implicationsThe actions must include the implementation of a medical and psychological care in continuum of healthcare system in Burkina Faso. This system should include screening at entry and adequate health and psychological care in prison for drug users for an effective control of drugs use in prison.Social implicationsMost of these drug users in prison have a low level of education and are unemployed. Education activities and training on occupational activities to prepare drug users for a successful social reintegration less dependent on drugs is essential. This study can be a basis to explore more possibilities and find out what is available to help those with substance use disorder, manage these cases in prison and prevent relapse on release.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first study on drug use in prison in Burkina Faso. It indicates that the repressive strategy against drug use seems ineffective because former users continue their consumption inside and also new users are initiated to use drugs in prison.

Implementasi Rehabilitasi Medis dan Sosial Terhadap Narapidana Narkotika Pada Lembaga Pemasyarakatan

One of the development activities for inmates is the provision of medical rehabilitation and social rehabilitation for drug offenders. Implementation of medical and social rehabilitation for drug offenders at Class II B Gunung Sugih Prison in accordance with Director General of Prisons Order No. PAS-36.OT.02.02 of 2020 about Correctional Service Standards is the focus of this research. This study examines the adoption of medical and social rehabilitation programs for drug offenders. What obstacles impede the implementation of medical and social rehabilitation programs for drug offenders? This study employs a normative and empirical legal methodology. The findings indicate: The execution of medical and social rehabilitation for drug convicts begins with an assessment of the client's concerns so that medical and social rehabilitation can be applied promptly. Acceptance occurs after determining the nature of the client's problem, as well as his or her physical, psychological, social psychological, and level of expertise, while simultaneously assigning the client to several sorts of programs. The purpose of social and skill mentoring is to improve client interaction patterns, preserve emotional stability, build a sense of responsibility and discipline, and foster the desire to become a better individual. Insufficient medical equipment and infrastructure of buildings and special rooms prevent medical and social rehabilitation from taking place. There are drug users in prison who suffer from serious diseases and a lack of family support.

Continuity of care for drug users in prison and beyond: A qualitative insight

Social work in prisons is linked to specific tasks regarding the care for the people who are incarcerated. A multi-country qualitative study was set up to explore drug users’ and professionals’ perceptions of continuity of care in prison and beyond. It has been pointed out that continuity of care is associated with different barriers, especially regarding social work. Nevertheless, good practice examples do exist and could be implemented by social workers. Social workers and opioid users face challenges in the context of imprisonment, so different measures need to be implemented to support opioid users and for social workers to support them.

Drug user behavior about the development and rehabilitation process in Banda Aceh correctional institution

Narcotics prisoners are the focus of attention, where narcotics convicts need a more comprehensive and sustainable development, apart from being said to be law offenders. The purpose is to identify the implementation of rehabilitation of drug abuse cases in the correctional Qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach, through interview techniques (interview), observation, and documentation to 9 informants, namely cases of drug users in prisons. Researchers collect data concerning concepts, opinions, attitudes, and knowledge attitudes and actions of assessment and giving meaning to situations or experiences in life. The results of the research from the interviews show that the results of knowledge and attitudes and actions of the prisoners towards rehabilitation are very good and are still able to explain and accept changes from the rehabilitation program. Knowledge of attitudes and actions that are already good and able to follow the programs that have been determined to be implemented in the prison in Banda Aceh.

\u201cMy first 48\xa0hours out\u201d: drug users\u2019 perspectives on challenges and strategies upon release from prison

BackgroundPrisoners report much higher prevalence rates of drug use and more harmful consumption patterns than the general population. People who use drugs have above-average experiences with the criminal justice system in general, and the prison system and subsequent release situations in particular. Release from prison is associated with increased mortality rates among drug users due to the risk of overdose. The EU-funded project ‘My first 48 hours out’ aimed to address the gaps in continuity of care for long-term drug users in prison and upon release, with a special focus on drug user’s perspectives on needs and challenges upon release.MethodsA multi-country (Belgium, France, Germany and Portugal) qualitative study was set up to explore drug users’ perceptions of drug use and risk behaviour upon prison release, experiences of incarceration and release, and strategies to avoid risks when being released. In total, 104 prisoners and recently released persons with a history of drug use participated in semi-structured interviews and focus groups discussions on these topics.ResultsRespondents pointed out that there are numerous challenges for people who use drugs when released from prison. Lack of stable housing and employment support were frequently mentioned, as well as complex administrative procedures regarding access to services, health insurance and welfare benefits. Besides structural challenges, individual issues may challenge social reintegration like ‘old habits’, mental health problems and disrupted social networks. As a result, (ex-)prisoners adopt individual strategies to cope with the risks and challenges at release.ConclusionMeasures to prepare prisoners for release often do not focus on the individual and specific challenges of persons who use drugs. Psychosocial and medical support need to be improved and adjusted to drug users’ needs inside and outside prison. To improve the quality and continuity of care around release, the perspectives and coping strategies of people who use drugs should be used to better address their needs and barriers to treatment.

Perceived need for drug treatment among African American male drug-using prisoners

Since 2016, African Americans have experienced the largest increase in cocaine-related drug overdose deaths compared to other racial/ethnic groups. African American male prisoners who used drugs prior to incarceration are at an increased risk for relapse and overdose upon community re-entry. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a guiding framework, this study examined correlates of perceived need for treatment among 193 drug-using incarcerated African American men nearing release. Linear regression analyses revealed that the number of lifetime drug overdoses, severity of legal problems, and previous drug treatment significantly predicted a need for treatment. Further, more frequent drug use, specifically crack cocaine, in the month prior to incarceration predicted a higher perceived need for drug treatment. Implications suggest this population demonstrates a need for treatment, which may be exacerbated by re-entry stressors. Preventative measures, including culturally tailored treatment and transitional care from prison to community-based services, are necessary to reduce risk of relapse and overdose among this group.

Development of Internal Child Healing Program and Effectiveness Study for Recovery of Drug Users in Prison - Approach to mixed research methodology -

Development of Internal Child Healing Program and Effectiveness Study for Recovery of Drug Users in Prison - Approach to mixed research methodology -

Linkage and continuity of care after release from prison: an evaluation of central registration points for drug users in Belgium.

This paper aims to report the findings of an evaluation study concerning the Central Registration Points (CRPs) for drug users in Belgian prisons. CRPs support drug users to link with community-based services. The study applied a multi-method approach that involved an exploratory literature review; a secondary analysis of the CRPs' databases; a qualitative study of the perceptions of a diverse sample of stakeholders with regard to the functioning of CRPs; and a prospective registration study. One-third of the clients never attended an outpatient or residential substance abuse service before prison entry. This illustrates that the CRPs managed to reach clients who were not previously reached by (substance abuse) treatment services. All interviewed actors emphasized the added value of the CRPs in terms of informing, contacting, motivating and referring prisoners with a substance abuse problem. Based on the research findings, two issues seem to be of paramount importance in the successful practice of CRPs: the confidentiality and specific expertise on (substance abuse) treatment. Given the complex situation of drug users in prison, an independent positioning and categorical assistance with drug-specific expertise seem to be essential. CRPs can be considered to be one of the "building blocks" that contribute to high-quality care and continuity of care for drugs users in detention.

The discourses of risk of drug users in prison

In the last twenty years, sociological changes and actions aimed at improving the health of inmates have contributed to decrease the prevalence of infectious diseases and overdoses among prison population. Currently, however, drug addictions treatment penitentiary programs are questioned for lacking of innovation and deficiencies in coverage. In order to investigate this issue we analyzed the discourses of imprisonned people regarding drug use and drug addiction programs. We applied a qualitative phenomenological method. We carried out four discussion groups with 29 encarcerated drug users and made an analysis of the discourse about different possitionings towards drug use and drug addiction treatment programs. From the combination of positions regarding drug use and drug addiction treatment programs emerged three kind of discourses respectively called: a) "reckless", characteristic of people implied in risk practices without taking preventive measures; b) "adventourous", tipical of those that take drugs both keeping the benefits of these practices and controls its negative consequences using prevention measures; c) "prudent", of abstainers or occasionally users that minimize risks and damages. Encarcerated population accept drug use practices based on three risk discourses. The present study shows out that, in order to increase the effectiveness of drug policies in prison, drug treatement programs goals must be adapted to drug users particular economization of risk strategies.

The potential of prisons to support drug recovery

Purpose – Recovery is the predominant discourse within current UK drug policy, promoted as freedom from dependence. In support of such a policy driver, prison drug recovery wings have been piloted in ten prisons in England and Wales to address high drug prevalence rates in prisoner populations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of these specialist wings within the context of wider developments to tackle reoffending among drug-using prisoners. Design/methodology/approach – The first part of the paper offers an analysis of the emergence of the recovery paradigm in the prison context through analysis of official policy documents. The second draws predominantly upon two process evaluations of the drug recovery wings, alongside literature on prison drug treatment. Findings – There is limited empirical evidence to inform the debate about whether prisons can provide settings to facilitate recovery from the effects of illicit drug use. What is available suggests that effective therapeutic environments for recovering drug users could be established within prisons. Key components for these appear to be sufficient numbers of staff who are competent and confident in providing a dual role of support and discipline, and a common purpose of all prisoners committing to recovery from illicit drugs and supporting each other. Further research regarding the impact of drug recovery wings upon health, crime and wider social outcomes is needed. Originality/value – This paper provides an updated perspective on the development of drug treatment in prisons, with a particular focus on the implications of the new recovery paradigm.

Provision of harm reduction and drug treatment services in custodial settings – Findings from the European ACCESS study

Aims: The aim of the study was to survey the availability, coverage and quality of harm reduction and drug treatment services delivered to drug users in prisons across Europe. Methods: A survey was conducted between 2012 and 2013 among the 29 European countries. An electronic semistructured questionnaire was sent to the national institutions responsible for prison services, and 27 countries responded. In addition, good practice interventions for drug offenders have been collated by 15 national experts covering 15 European countries. The interventions were described and assessed as to their quality through using European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (EMCDDA) standard tools for reporting and quality assessment. Findings: Drug treatment including detoxification and opioid substitution treatment (OST) is available in prisons of most European countries. However, OST is unavailable in five countries. Almost all countries provide prison-based harm reduction measures to prevent and treat infectious diseases among prisoners. Especially, testing and treatment for HIV and tuberculosis are provided, while other measures, such as the distribution of condoms or bleach, and especially needle and syringe programmes are still rare. Conclusions: Access to and coverage of OST in prisons is higher in countries with a long history of OST provision, while in countries that introduced OST more recently the scale of OST is usually lower. Access to hepatitis C treatment is often limited in prisons due to the lack of drug abstinence or a health insurance.

People who inject drugs in prison: HIV prevalence, transmission and prevention

In 2011, over 10.1 million people were held in prisons around the world. HIV prevalence is elevated in prison and this is due to the over representation of people who inject drugs (PWID). Yet HIV prevention programs for PWID are scarce in the prison setting. With a high proportion of drug users and few prevention programs, HIV transmission occurs and sometimes at an alarming rate.This commentary focuses primarily on drug users in prison; their risk behaviours and levels of infection. It also comments on the transmission of HIV including outbreaks and the efforts to prevent transmission within the prison setting.The spread of HIV in prison has substantial public health implications as virtually all prisoners return to the community. HIV prevention and treatment strategies known to be effective in community settings, such as methadone maintenance treatment, needle and syringe programs, condoms and antiretroviral therapy should be provided to prisoners as a matter of urgency.

‘A culture of sharing’: Drug exchange in a Norwegian prison

Despite growing numbers of drug users in prisons all over the western world, drug exchange behind bars has received little scholarly attention. The few studies that exist describe the prison drug economy as mainly following market-based principles of exchange. However, ethnographic fieldwork in a closed Norwegian prison reveals something different: prisoners share their drugs, rather than selling them. In this article, I describe and try to explain this ‘culture of sharing’. Drawing on anthropological theories of exchange, drug sharing is understood as continuous gift-giving. The gift perspective allows us to see how sharing is shaped by motives of caring, compassion and solidarity, while it simultaneously emphasizes the self-interest embedded in such drug exchanges. The article argues that sharing is a highly effective form of drug exchange because there is a strong commitment to reciprocate when a prisoner receives drugs. The ‘culture of sharing’ is both contingent upon and produces social relations between prisoners. On the one hand, it offers an inclusive and solidary community for drug using prisoners; on the other hand it is upheld by strong social controls, by which deviations from accepted norms of conduct (i.e. failing to share) are sanctioned in a variety of ways.

Methadone prescribing in local prisons in England

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate some of the wider aims and potential consequences of maintaining remand and short-term prisoners on methadone, rather than providing them with a rapid detoxification on first reception into prison. Consideration is given to the effects of methadone prescribing on treatment engagement; drug-related violence; treatment choice, including detoxification, maintenance and reduction doses; recidivism; and through care. Design/methodology/approach – The author draws on qualitative data gathered during a wider study involving drug-using prisoners and prison drug workers exploring the influence of the therapeutic working alliance on outcomes in prison-based drug treatment. Findings – Whilst participants reported advantages to the prescribing of methadone in prisons, such as reduced levels of bullying and drug-related violence in the prisons, they were also critical of many aspects of methadone prescribing which were intended to increase treatment choice, but in pra...

P3.443 Risk Behaviour and Risk Factors For HIV and Other STI Among Prisoners in Serbia

BackgroundThe Strategy on HIV infection and AIDS 2011–2015, and the Strategic Plan for the Response to the HIV Epidemic in the Republic of Serbia, both recognise the need for conducting...

The Social Life of Illegal Drug Users in Prison: A Comparative Perspective

Different degrees of criminalization of illegal drug use influence the overall composition of prison populations across countries. Individuals convicted of illegal drug-related crimes represent a significant part of the prison population in Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. These convicts are not a part of the traditional criminal milieu, but a product of the perception of certain acts as crimes in particular contexts (e.g., an increasing social distance, the state’s control over potentially dangerous groups, etc.). The experience of incarceration might cause important changes in their life after release. The idea that prison contributes to the interiorization of criminal norms rather than preventing deviant behavior in the future seems especially fruitful in regard to illegal drug users. Elements of prison subculture are described on the basis of an empirical research conducted in 1996-2003 in Russian prisons (N = 769 (49 of these were convicted in relation to illegal drugs) in 2000-2001; and N = 214 (24) in 2003). The social organization of everyday life of inmates convicted of drug-related offences in Russia, Kazakhstan (N = 396 (76) in 2001) and Ukraine (N = 208 (26) in 2003) is compared with that of other convicts to test the hypothesis about the lack of significant differences between the two groups.

Evolución de la necesidad y cobertura de los programas de tratamiento con sustitutivos opioides e intercambio de jeringas en las prisiones españolas, 1992-2009

Introduccion: Espana es de los pocos paises que ha implementado generalizadamente tratamientos con sustitutivos opioides (TSO) y programas de intercambio de jeringas (PIJ) para los consumidores de drogas en prision. Se analiza la evolucion de la necesidad, cobertura y oportunidad temporal de estas intervenciones en Espana durante 1992-2009. Material y metodos: La provision de intervenciones procede de publicaciones oficiales. La necesidad se estimo aplicando metodos multiplicativos a datos secundarios de varias fuentes. La cobertura se estimo mediante el cociente entre provision y necesidad, y la diferencia entre dichas magnitudes. La oportunidad temporal se estimo observando el decalaje entre el acme de incidencia de consumo, de infeccion por VIH o de necesidad y las curvas de provision. Resultados: Los TSO comenzaron en 1992. Su maxima cobertura se alcanzo en 2002 (63.8%), y posteriormente se estabilizo. Los PIJ comenzaron en 1997. Su maxima cobertura se alcanzo en 2006 (20.7%), pero disminuyo a la mitad en dos anos. El retraso entre el acme de las epidemias o de la necesidad y la maxima cobertura de las intervenciones fue de 8-25 anos. Conclusiones: La implementacion de TSO y PIJ en las prisiones espanolas supuso un enorme avance de salud publica, pero el retraso en su implementacion y la baja cobertura de los PIJ pueden haber limitado mucho su impacto potencial en la mejora de la salud de los consumidores de drogas en prision. El descenso de la cobertura de los PIJ a la mitad en los ultimos anos es especialmente preocupante para la evolucion de las epidemias de VIH y hepatitis C. Palabras clave: tratamiento de sustitucion de opiaceos; programas de intercambio de agujas; prisiones; evaluacion de programas y proyectos de salud; reduccion del dano; VIH; hepatitis C; Espana

Evolution of the need and coverage of opioid substitution treatments and needle exchange programmes in Spanish prisons, 1992-2009

Spain is one of the few countries to have widely implemented opioid substitution treatments (OST) and needle exchange programmes (NEP) for drug users in prison. We analyze the evolution of the need, coverage and the timeliness of these interventions in Spain between 1992 and 2009. Data on the provision of interventions is taken from official publications. The need was calculated by applying multiplicative methods to secondary data from several sources. Coverage was estimated as the quotient between provision and need. Temporal opportunity was estimated by observing the gap between the acme of the incidence of consumption, of HIV infection or need and the curve of provision. OST's began to be implemented in 1992. In 2002 they reached their maximum coverage (63.8%) and subsequently stabilized. NEP's started in 1997. Their maximum coverage reached 20.7% in 2006, but halved in a period of two years. The delay between the epidemic acme and the need and maximum intervention coverage was of 8-25 years. OST and NEP introduction in Spanish prisons was a great advance, but the delay in their implementation and the low level of NEP coverage could have limited their potential impact on the improvement of the health of incarcerated drug users. The decline of NEP coverage in recent years is a cause of major concern for the evolution of HIV and Hepatitis C epidemics.

Drug-Related Death Following Release from Prison: A Brief Review of the Literature with Recommendations for Practice

Mortality from drug-related death is a significant contributor to the loss of life of young people in the UK. Despite attention, the high death rate from this cause continues to persist. One of the most frequently cited factors involved in drug-related death (DRD) is release from prison. This review aims to examine the published literature with a view to quantifying the risk associated with recent prison release and identifying risk factors and prevention strategies. Most deaths following release from prison are caused by overdose, usually from opioid use. The risk of death is greatest within the first week of release but, when compared with the general population, continues to be elevated for several weeks. Relative risk estimates suggest that those released from prison are up to 40 times more likely to die than similar individuals from the general population. Other than gender and an association with poor mental health, there is little in the way of robust risk factors for post-release death that could be identified from the literature. In-prison pharmacological maintenance treatment with methadone and buprenorphine has been shown to reduce the rate of heroin use, in the period immediately following release, in a small number of randomised controlled trials. It is widely recognised that continuity of care, of any form, is critical in avoiding DRDs. For problem drug users, packages of education, including information on the associated risks, treatments, and recognition of DRD after release from prison, are seen as a basic minimum requirement of the prison services. However, special protocols may be required for those drug-using prisoners who have a possibility of being released at short notice.

The Impact of Implementing Smoking Bans Among Incarcerated Substance Users: A Qualitative Study

This article reports a study evaluating the effects of implementing smoking bans among drug-using prisoners in Taiwan. Seventy-seven new entrants were recruited in May 2008. Six focus groups were conducted in a prison-based treatment center, the only prison with a total smoking ban in Taiwan. All the subjects were male and their average age was 37 years. Three general reactions to the ban were identified across all focus groups: (a) unfair/hypocritical policy; (b) being forced to stop smoking; and (c) finding ways to smoke anyway. Future studies should compare the effects of total versus partial smoking bans among drug abusers in prison to better explore policy options.