International journal of prison health最新文献

{"title":"Suicide methods in the year following release from pretrial jail detention.","authors":"JohnBosco Chika Chukwuorji, Lauren M Weinstock, Min Eun Jeon, Tosca D Braun, Sarah A Arias, Morgan K Cinader, Haneen Hammad, Ted Miller, Jennifer E Johnson","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-10-2024-0059","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-10-2024-0059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Despite an increasing body of knowledge on suicide methods, no previous studies have examined methods of past suicide attempts among individuals in pretrial jail detention and a follow-up after release from jail in the USA or in any other country. This study aims to describe suicide attempt methods considered and used in one's lifetime prior to pretrial jail detention and suicide attempt methods considered and used in the year following release from pretrial jail detention.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>Participants (n = 800) were recruited as part of a randomized controlled trial. They provided information on methods considered or acted on in their lifetime prior to the current pretrial jail detention as well as in the first year of release from jail.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Participants most frequently reported having considered and attempted suicide by poisoning (82% and 72.8%), cutting/piercing (47.8% and 35.3%), suffocation (42.1% and 20.8%), transportation (39.9% and 25.3%), falls and jumping (27.4% and 8.0%) prior to jail detention. After jail detention, they mostly considered and attempted suicide by poisoning (73.6% and 73.4%), cutting/piercing (28.6% and 13.9%), suffocation (33.2% and 10.1%), transportation (23.6% and 18.6%), falls and jumping (20.9% and 2.5%).</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>Given that poisoning, often with drugs or alcohol, was the commonest suicide attempt method, increasing access to effective substance use treatment may help to attenuate significant suicide risk. The study has laid the foundation for future research to explore potential moderators of suicide methods as well as to assess whether the findings are applicable to other parts of the world.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"406-415"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12519593/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143607720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Light behind bars: how light impacts mental health in prisons.","authors":"Alberto Urrutia-Moldes","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-11-2024-0074","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-11-2024-0074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This paper synthesises literature on non-visual effects of light in prison environments, drawing attention to disconnect between research evidence and current practices. This paper aims to guide prison designers and decision-makers towards lighting strategies that better support inmates' mental health and rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A focused literature search was conducted from June to October 2024 using Google Scholar and PubMed, targeting peer-reviewed studies published between 1985 and 2024. Included studies addressed the non-visual effects of light related to circadian rhythm, mental health, artificial and natural lighting, stress, aggression and hormonal regulation. Only English-language studies providing empirical or theoretical insights relevant to confinement settings were considered. Studies focused solely on visual performance, non-human subjects or lacking health implications were excluded. Keyword combinations were refined iteratively, although some relevant interdisciplinary work may have been missed due to indexing or terminological variations.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Neglecting the role of lighting in prison design contributes to poor psychological outcomes. Limited access to daylight and the overuse of artificial lighting with high blue light content disrupt circadian regulation, worsening sleep, mood and mental health. Conversely, designs that maximise daylight exposure and use adjustable artificial lighting with appropriate spectral qualities can promote emotional stability, reduce aggression and support rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Research limitations/implications: </strong>Relevant interdisciplinary studies may still have been missed due to database indexing limitations or terminological variations across fields.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>This paper bridges the gap between lighting design, environmental psychology and prison reform. By focusing on how light affects inmates' psychological health and rehabilitation, it offers insights into how prison design can be improved to foster well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"347-362"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144050332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Facilitators and barriers to scaling up methadone maintenance therapy in Malaysian prisons: using nominal group technique with custodial staff.","authors":"Allison Mobley, Sheela V Shenoi, Ahsan Ahmad, Nagadevi Mogan Ravie, Daniel J Bromberg, Lynn Madden, Jiang Long, Joselyn Pang, Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Frederick L Altice","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-11-2024-0064","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-11-2024-0064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Access to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in prison is essential for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). This study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to expanding MMT in prisons, which is paramount to guide implementation. Custodial staff are key stakeholders.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>The authors used nominal group technique (NGT), a rapid, mixed-methods strategy, with ten custodial officers with six months employment, to identify perceived barriers and potential solutions to MMT scale-up in Malaysia's largest prison where MMT has been available since 2010. NGT provided a list with rank-ordering of perceived barriers and facilitators. Recorded notes contextualized the list.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Most (N = 8) participants accurately recognized MMT as effective treatment for OUD. Among the 12 barriers listed, the 2 top-ranked barriers included perceived inadequate knowledge about MMT by both persons deprived of liberty (PDL) and custodial staff, followed by concerns about the quality of the MMT program (e.g. access, dosing and restrictions) and low perceived motivation by PDL to initiate methadone while incarcerated. Facilitators included: educational and motivational tools designed for PDL to guide in decision-making; training programs for custodial officers' and designing a quality MMT program, especially regarding adequate dosing.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>Few studies consider the vital perspective of custodial staff in implementation of health-care programming in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) prisons. Custodial staff identified barriers and offered actionable facilitators for scaling up MMT in the LMIC prison setting. Education-oriented solutions included a decision aid for PDL and programming for custodial staff. Ensuring quality programming, hallmarked by ease-of-access to MMT and adequate dosing, may facilitate scale-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"473-487"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144819045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resisting methadone: criminal subculture and methadone implementation in Moldovan prisons.","authors":"Lyu Azbel, Mary Tate, Dan Bromberg, Frederick L Altice","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-03-2025-0022","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-03-2025-0022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Maintenance treatment with methadone (MMT) is globally recommended as a key strategy for HIV prevention and addiction treatment in prisons, yet implementation remains limited. Moldova offers a rare exception, where MMT has been available in prisons for over two decades, though uptake remains low. This study aims to examine how criminal subcultures, widespread in many Eastern European prisons, shape access to and perceptions of MMT.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A total of 35 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted in two men's prisons near Chišinău with participants of varied social standing and methadone treatment status. Thematic analysis was used to explore how carceral hierarchies and informal governance shape MMT.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Three major themes emerged: implementation efforts for prison-based MMT have largely failed to account for local contexts and the influence of criminal subcultures; MMT disrupts the hierarchical boundaries that structure prison subculture, resulting in the loss of material and social capital for those who initiate treatment; and MMT has become entangled in a power struggle between formal and informal prison authorities, functioning as a tool of influence for the prison administration and reinforcing its undesirable status among people in prison.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>This study is among the first studies, to the best of the authors' knowledge, to capture how criminal subcultures reshape the implementation and meaning of MMT in Eastern European prisons. These findings underscore the need for future implementation efforts to engage with the social, economic and material logics of criminal subculture, enabling MMT programs to emerge that are independent of custodial control.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"417-431"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145305206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical activities in prisons - beyond just sport. Focus on Czechia and Hungary.","authors":"Tereza Dlestikova, Márta Miklósi","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-07-2024-0045","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-07-2024-0045","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Purpose: &lt;/strong&gt;The aim of the paper is to emphasize the importance of physical activity in prisons, its link to mental health and the potential for desistance bringing the perspective of two Eastern European countries - Czechia and Hungary. The paper aims to show that sport in prison has to be seriously considered as an activity that has the potential to positively contribute to the physical and mental health of prison inmates. The aim of the paper is to show that sport in prison is a very potential rehabilitative tool. Doing sport in prison presents an opportunity for meaningful leisure and contributes to the development of good leisure habits.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Design/methodology/approach: &lt;/strong&gt;The methodology integrates a literature review and legal analysis, complemented by practical experiences, which provide both theoretical and empirical understanding of the research topic; the review covers international research papers regarding sports activities in prisons and also the legal framework of the topic, both the international one and the national (Czech and Hungarian) ones providing the experience with concrete activities from the Czech and Hungarian prisons as well.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Findings: &lt;/strong&gt;Sport in prison has to be seriously considered as an activity that has the potential to positively contribute to the physical and mental health of prison inmates. Sport in prison is a very potential rehabilitative tool. Doing sport in prison presents an opportunity for meaningful leisure and contributes to the development of good leisure habits. The possibility for prison inmates to do sports activities corresponds to a comprehensive approach to prison treatment and rehabilitation which works with leisure time as a pro-desistance factor.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Research limitations/implications: &lt;/strong&gt;This is not extensive research, rather it is a theoretical mapping with national (Czech and Hungarian) experience.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Practical implications: &lt;/strong&gt;Physical activity in prisons should be officially recognised (politically and systematically) as an activity with significant potential to improve both the physical and mental health of inmates, serving as an effective rehabilitative tool. From a systemic perspective, allowing physical activities in prisons reflects the trend towards normalising prison life, addressing issues related to prisonisation. Engaging in physical activity can bridge the gap between prison and post-release life, helping individuals maintain and cultivate pro-social habits developed during incarceration. For that reason, it should be considered as relevant part of prison throughcare and aftercare.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Social implications: &lt;/strong&gt;Improvement of physical and mental health of prison inmates, as well as their socialisation. Increasing the rehabilitation potential of the prison system. Contribution to desistance from crime through leisure-time physical activity as a pro-desistance factor.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"260-277"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142825003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Substance use and psychiatric morbidity among inmates in a Nigerian correctional centre: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Anthony C Enebe, Sunday Onyemaechi Oriji, Bawo O James, Joyce O Omoaregba, Ihechiluru G Anozie, Paul O Erohubie, Nkiruka A Enebe, Ijeoma Charles-Ugwuagbo","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-02-2025-0017","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-02-2025-0017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Psychoactive substance use and its associated disorders are common among inmates of correctional services. The burden of substance/drug misuse among inmates has not been adequately characterized in the Nigerian population. This study aims to determine the prevalence and pattern of psychoactive substance use and its association with psychological distress among inmates in a correctional service centre.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study, conducted at two correctional service units in Benin Metropolis in Nigeria, with a total of 163 inmate-participants. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder module) and General Health Questionnare-12 were used to collect data on substance use and psychological disability, respectively.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>The prevalence of lifetime and current (past month) use of substance(s) were 76.7% and 33.7%, respectively. A total of 26 (16.0%) subjects had a diagnosable alcohol use disorder, while 28 (17.2%) had other substance use disorder. A total of 19 (73.1%) and 21(85.8%) reported moderate-severe alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorder, respectively. A total of 121 (74.2%) participants had psychological distress. There was a significant association between the presence of psychological distress and substance use (p = 0.02).</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>This study, using a standardized diagnostic tool, has established a high prevalence of lifetime and current use of psychoactive substances, as well as quantifying the disorders associated with alcohol/other substance use habit among prison inmates. This disclosed burden in prison may serve as a highlight to the policymakers and or managers of correctional centres to incorporate drug treatment programs in rehabilitation schemes.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"499-509"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144985327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and determinants of selected modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among male prisoners of Karachi.","authors":"Azeem Jamil, Shiraz Shaikh, Muhammad Ovais","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-07-2025-0052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-07-2025-0052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to determine the prevalence of selected modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among male prisoners in Karachi.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 400 male prisoners aged between 30 and 60 years at Central Jail Karachi in December 2024. Information on risk factors of CVDs was obtained using a modified World Health Organization (WHO) STEPS questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression was performed to identify determinants of CVD risk factors, including smoking status, disturbed sleep and raised blood pressure, overweight and obesity.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Almost all participants had no moderate to vigorous physical activity (97.5%), no fruit intake (93.0%) and vegetable intake of less than three times per week (91.0%). Around one-third had raised blood pressure (38.5%), were current smokers (35.5%) and were overweight or obese (32.8%). Older age showed positive association with raised blood pressure. Education was positively associated with smoking and being overweight/obese. With reference to prisoners who had spent one to five years in jail, those who had spent six years or more were significantly less likely to have disturbed sleep.</p><p><strong>Research limitations/implications: </strong>The study reveals a high prevalence of risk factors of CVDs among prisoners, making them highly vulnerable to encounter cardiovascular events. The findings emphasize the urgent need for prison reforms, including improving access to healthy food choices, reducing access to tobacco products and engaging prisoners in physical activity, offering intermittent screening and provision of treatment support when required.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>The findings emphasize the critical need to introduce reforms in jails which include improving access to healthy food choices, reducing access to tobacco products, engaging prisoners in physical activity, offering intermittent screening and provision of treatment support if required.</p><p><strong>Social implications: </strong>The findings will help to improve healthy lifestyles in prisons in a developing country setting.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>The study presents the prevalence of modifiable risk factors in the biggest prison of Karachi which addresses an important public health gap focusing on the underprivileged and overlooked population of society. Use of a validated tool enhances reliability and validity to the findings of the research.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145484456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reimagining rehabilitation: addressing basic needs and substance use in prison environments for the common good.","authors":"Tyesia Williams, Leanne Howell, Nicholas Werse","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-06-2025-0048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-06-2025-0048","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study is to reinforce the importance of rehabilitation, which is considered to be one of the key elements in the correctional environment that deters crime and reduces the rates of recidivism. Although rehabilitation efforts, such as substance use treatment, have benefits, the condition of the prison environment, specifically the lack of basic needs, can thwart the efforts of the rehabilitative process. This study builds upon previous research to propose institutional adjustments to the incarceration environment to better support rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>This study builds upon the implications of a previously conducted qualitative case study that used semi-structured individual interviews, a focus group and site observations at a Louisiana facility to explore five incarcerated individuals' access to the five basic needs and uncover barriers to self-actualization while in substance use treatment programs. The findings were leveraged to determine best practices for creating an environment more conducive to rehabilitation and treatment.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>This study argues for three actionable changes to the Department of Corrections system that can support rehabilitation efforts more effectively: improvements in meeting one of humanity's most essential needs - adequate and nutritious food, initiatives to improve incarcerated individuals' sense of safety and enhanced correctional officer training.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>The environment in which substance use treatment is administered has the potential to be beneficial or detrimental to the rehabilitative process. Providing correctional institutions with the knowledge necessary to confront hindrances to successful treatment has the potential to change the trajectory of rehabilitative efforts and recidivism.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145350973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection and prevention: evaluation of a nurse-led satellite sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing clinic initiative in an Australian correctional centre.","authors":"Amanda Nichole Balmer, Annette Brömdal, Sonya Osborne, Kathryn Kynoch, Amy Mullens, Leah East","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-09-2024-0053","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-09-2024-0053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study was to determine if a satellite sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing clinic increased STI/blood-borne virus testing and detection in a correctional setting in Australia.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A cohort study of males incarcerated in a correctional centre in Queensland, who voluntarily attended a satellite STI testing clinic over six months. Data were collected on purpose designed data collection sheets. A retrospective medical chart audit was conducted from three-months before commencement of the clinic until the end of the clinic period. Attendance rates for three-months following the clinic's completion were also considered. Attendance rates, treatment rates, time to treatment, follow-up rates, reinfection rates and client satisfaction were analysed using descriptive statistics, including program sustainability.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Success of the STI clinic was evidenced by an increase in attendance rates from 32/242 (13.2%) to 242/242 (100%), pre-intervention to the intervention, respectively. Treatment rates increased from 10/242 (4.1%) to 41/242 (16.9%) pre-intervention to intervention, respectively, and an increase in time to treatment from 43.11 (Std. Dev 36.77) mean days pre-intervention to 54.62 (Std. Dev 42.06) mean days during the intervention. Follow-up rates also increased from 5/242 (2.1%) pre-intervention to 24/242 (9.9%) during the intervention. Of the 242 participants, 52 received a positive STI/diagnosis with 44 being diagnosed with hepatitis C. Satisfaction was high with a mean score of 9.7 out of 10 (Std. Dev 0.685). Attendance rates showed no significant difference three-months pre- (<i>n</i> = 32) to post-intervention (<i>n</i> = 35), however, support for the intervention has continued. Future practice should incorporate satellite STI testing clinics as weekly practice.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to consider satellite STI testing within the corrections environment in Australia. The study uniquely showcased how the satellite STI clinic achieved increased STI testing attendance rates, treatment rates, follow-up rates and high satisfaction rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144334738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overall and substance use-specific healthcare utilization among individuals with and without criminal justice involvement in Ontario, Canada.","authors":"Cayley Russell, Alexa Yakubovich, Patricia O'Campo, Kathleen Qu, Lesley Plumptre, Fiona Kouyoumdjian, Flora I Matheson","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-06-2024-0034","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-06-2024-0034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Correctional populations have higher rates of substance use disorders and related healthcare visits relative to the general population. However, limited evidence on substance use-related healthcare visits exists among this population. Using population data for Ontario, Canada, this study aims to examine overall and substance use-specific healthcare visits for individuals with and without known provincial criminal justice system involvement (CJI versus non-CJI, respectively).</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>This retrospective study compared overall and substance use-related healthcare visits between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2020 among provincially-incarcerated individuals (CJI group) versus those without criminal justice involvement (non-CJI group). Both groups were identified through available health administrative data and were individually matched by age, sex and material deprivation.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>The authors identified and matched 208,188 individuals (59.9% male) with and without CJI and a healthcare visit. Compared to the non-CJI group, those with CJI had approximately 20 times the rate of healthcare visits for alcohol use, drug use and illicit drug-related overdoses. Among those with CJI, females had a higher prevalence of overall healthcare visits, whereas males had a higher prevalence of substance use-specific visits.</p><p><strong>Research limitations/implications: </strong>Findings highlight the high number of healthcare visits for substance use-related needs among individuals with CJI in Ontario. These results can inform efforts to enhance correctional release planning, improve access to community-based treatment and strengthen substance use prevention and treatment interventions for this high-risk population.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>Results can inform efforts to enhance correctional release planning, improve access to community-based treatment, and strengthen substance use prevention and treatment interventions for this high-risk population.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first in Canada to draw on population-level administrative health data to identify and match a large sample of individuals with and without CJI and examine substance use-specific healthcare utilization, longitudinally.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12828222/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144277324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}