F Sahajian1, A Berger-Vergiat2, E Pot3. 1. Service medico-psychologique régional à la prison de Lyon-Corbas, centre hospitalier Le Vinatier, 95, boulevard Pinel, 69677 Bron, France; CSAPA antenne toxicomanies à la prison de Lyon-Corbas, centre hospitalier Le Vinatier, 95, boulevard Pinel, 69677 Bron, France; Laboratoire d'épidémiologie et de santé publique, faculté de médecine Domaine-Rockefeller, 8, avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France. Electronic address: sahajian@rockefeller.univ-lyon1.fr. 2. Service medico-psychologique régional à la prison de Lyon-Corbas, centre hospitalier Le Vinatier, 95, boulevard Pinel, 69677 Bron, France; CSAPA, groupement hospitalier Édouard-Herriot, hospices civils de Lyon, place d'Arsonval, 69003 Lyon, France. 3. CSAPA antenne toxicomanies à la prison de Lyon-Corbas, centre hospitalier Le Vinatier, 95, boulevard Pinel, 69677 Bron, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In prison, in 2012, according to various sources, from 4 to 56% of the European inmate population used psychoactive substances (PAS). The aim of our study was to describe PAS consumption during incarceration in the prison of Lyon-Corbas, France. METHOD: A transversal descriptive study was conducted between September 23rd and September 27th 2013 among all inmates of this prison. We used an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, distributed at lunchtime and collected, the same day, at dinnertime, by the mental health service personnel. RESULTS: Among 785 inmates present at the time of the study in the prison of Lyon-Corbas, 710 were included and the response rate was 64.4% (95% CI [60.8-67.8]). Among 457 responding inmates, 16.4% (95% CI [13.2-20.0]) reported no PAS consumption. Among 382 consumers, 74.4% (95% CI [69.8-78.5]) used tobacco, 36.8% (95% CI [32.2-41.8]) cannabis, 30.4% (95% CI [25.9-35.1]) alcohol, 7.7% (95% CI [5.2-10.6]) heroin and 10.3% (95% CI [7.5-13.6]) cocaine. Furthermore, 15% of consumers had started PAS consumption during their incarceration. Among consumers of at least one PAS other than tobacco, cannabis and alcohol, the way of consumption was sniff for 60.0% (95% CI [48.5-70.2]) and injection for 31.0% (95% CI [21.6-42.1]). Use of several PAS at the same time and sharing sniffing and/or injection paraphernalia were other risky behaviors observed; 12% (95% CI [5.8-20.4]) of drug injectors declared using chlorine to sterilize their injection paraphernalia. CONCLUSION: Our study provides worrying data about PAS consumption in prison. The measures of prohibition do not prevent this consumption. There is even an initiation of consumption of PAS for 15% of the first-time incarcerated inmates. This finding should encourage public authorities to facilitate access of inmates to the care structures in prisons, to improve drug use prevention and care programs and to develop activities (sports, cultural, educational and vocational).
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In prison, in 2012, according to various sources, from 4 to 56% of the European inmate population used psychoactive substances (PAS). The aim of our study was to describe PAS consumption during incarceration in the prison of Lyon-Corbas, France. METHOD: A transversal descriptive study was conducted between September 23rd and September 27th 2013 among all inmates of this prison. We used an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, distributed at lunchtime and collected, the same day, at dinnertime, by the mental health service personnel. RESULTS: Among 785 inmates present at the time of the study in the prison of Lyon-Corbas, 710 were included and the response rate was 64.4% (95% CI [60.8-67.8]). Among 457 responding inmates, 16.4% (95% CI [13.2-20.0]) reported no PAS consumption. Among 382 consumers, 74.4% (95% CI [69.8-78.5]) used tobacco, 36.8% (95% CI [32.2-41.8]) cannabis, 30.4% (95% CI [25.9-35.1]) alcohol, 7.7% (95% CI [5.2-10.6]) heroin and 10.3% (95% CI [7.5-13.6]) cocaine. Furthermore, 15% of consumers had started PAS consumption during their incarceration. Among consumers of at least one PAS other than tobacco, cannabis and alcohol, the way of consumption was sniff for 60.0% (95% CI [48.5-70.2]) and injection for 31.0% (95% CI [21.6-42.1]). Use of several PAS at the same time and sharing sniffing and/or injection paraphernalia were other risky behaviors observed; 12% (95% CI [5.8-20.4]) of drug injectors declared using chlorine to sterilize their injection paraphernalia. CONCLUSION: Our study provides worrying data about PAS consumption in prison. The measures of prohibition do not prevent this consumption. There is even an initiation of consumption of PAS for 15% of the first-time incarcerated inmates. This finding should encourage public authorities to facilitate access of inmates to the care structures in prisons, to improve drug use prevention and care programs and to develop activities (sports, cultural, educational and vocational).
Keywords:
Consommation de substances psycho-actives et drogues; Drug use prevention and care; Détenus hommes et femmes; Male and female inmates; Milieu carcéral; Prison; Prévention et soins en addictologie; Psychoactive substances and drug consumption
Authors: Thomas Gaisl; Naser Musli; Patrick Baumgartner; Marc Meier; Silvana K Rampini; Eva Blozik; Edouard Battegay; Malcolm Kohler; Shekhar Saxena Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2020-12-08