@article{ref1,
title="Medication and drug use during incarceration: Homeostasis of a setting",
journal="International medical journal",
year="2002",
author="Plourde, C. and Brochu, S.",
volume="9",
number="3",
pages="163-168",
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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>METHOD: Selected at random, 317 respondents in 10 Canadian penitentiaries were interviewed to complete self-reported questionnaires. <br><br>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.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1341-2051",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}