Citation

Plourde C, Brochu S. Int. Med. J. 2002; 9(3): 163-168.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An accurate analysis of the phenomenon of medication use in penitentiaries requires careful consideration of a number of factors. Among these: the state of mental and/or physical health of incarcerated individuals, security issues, the prescribing individual's freedom of action, inmate adaptation, illicit substance use by inmates and motivations for intoxication.

OBJECTIVE: In this article, we shall attempt both to summarize these various considerations, and to present the basis for our hypothesis of the existence of a setting homeostasis ensured by an equilibrium between medication and illicit psychotropic drugs.

DESIGN: To support our arguments, we shall present data on medication and drug use drawn from a descriptive study on psychoactive substance use in the federal penitentiaries of Quebec, Canada. This research deals with the prevalence of use and explores patterns of inmate drug use during imprisonment.

METHOD: Selected at random, 317 respondents in 10 Canadian penitentiaries were interviewed to complete self-reported questionnaires.

RESULTS: Analyses of the data on drug and medication use in the different penitentiaries seem to show that a form of equilibrium exists between illicit drug supply and demand and use of medication: Where the supply of medication is greater due to a variety of factors, there is lesser use of illicit substances. Inversely, where illicit drugs are more readily available and/or medication more rare, the homeostasis maintained by the drug supply again ensures satisfaction of the motivations of drug-using inmates.

Language: en

Keywords

adaptation; adult; Canada; controlled study; coping behavior; Drug; health care utilization; Homeostasis; human; illicit drug; intoxication; major clinical study; Medication; mental health; motivation; prescription; prevalence; Prison; prisoner; psychotropic agent; review; substance abuse; suicide