Aims of this study were to define the prevalence of people with a substance use disorder (SUD) in Tuscan prisons and the relationship of such disorders with chronic viral hepatitis C or B (HCV, HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Of 3,291 adult prisoners, 3,100 were enrolled. Of the 3,100 inmates, 912 (29.4%) had at least one psychiatric disorder, 17.8% had a SUD/alcohol use disorder, 6.1% had adaptation disorder, and 5.5% had personality disorder. Of the drug users, 28.9% had at least one infectious disease such as HCV, HBV, and HIV. The probability of contracting HBV was higher in women than in men and in people over 50 years. The probability of contracting HCV was higher in prisoners aged 40–49, particularly among those who used opioids. Accurate national and global data on SUD and its association with HBV, HCV, and HIV are needed to permit accurate estimation of its impact in these settings.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BinswangerI. A., MerrillJ. O., KruegerP. M., WhiteM. C., BoothR. E., & ElmoreJ. G. (2010). Gender differences in chronic medical, psychiatric, and substance-dependence disorders among jail inmates. American Journal of Public Health, 100(3),476–482. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.149591
2.
DolanK., MoazenB., NooriA., RahimzadehS., FarzadfarF., & HarigaF. (2015). People who inject drugs in prison: HIV prevalence, transmission and prevention. International Journal on Drug Policy, 26(Suppl 1),S12–S15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.10.012
3.
DolanK., WirtzA. L., MoazenB., Ndeffo-MbahM., GalvaniA., KinnerS. A., CourtneyR., McKeeM., AmonJ. J., MaherL., HellardM., BeyrerC., & AlticeF. L. (2016). Global burden of HIV, viral hepatitis, and tuberculosis in prisoners and detainees. Lancet, 388(10049),1089–1102. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30466-4
4.
DuhamelA., RenardJ. M., NuttensM. C., DevosP., BeuscartR., & ArcherE. (2001). Social and health status of arrivals in a French prison: A consecutive case study from 1989 to 1995. Revue d'Epidemiologie et de Sante Publique, 49(3),229–238.
5.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. (2018). Public health guidance on prevention and control of blood-borne viruses in prison settings: Prevention and control of communicable diseases in prison settings. ECDC and EMCDDA. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Guidance-on-BBV-in-prisons.pdf
6.
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. (2011). Annual report 2011: The state of the drugs problem in Europe. Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2810/44330
KastelicA., PontJ., & StöverH. (2008). Opioid substitution treatment in custodial settings. A practical guide. BIS-Verlag.
12.
KinnerS. A., & YoungJ. T. (2018). Understanding and improving the health of people who experience incarceration: An overview and synthesis. Epidemiologic Reviews, 40(1),4–11. https://doi.org/10.1093/epirev/mxx018
13.
LoC. C., & StephensR. C. (2000). Drugs and prisoners: Treatment needs on entering prison. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 26(2),229–245. https://doi.org/10.1081/ada-100100602
14.
NelsonP. K., MathersB. M., CowieB., HaganH., Des JarlaisD., HoryniakD., & DegenhardtL. (2011). Global epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in people who inject drugs: Results of systematic reviews. Lancet, 378(9791),571–583. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61097-0
VanyaM., & DevosaI. (2018). Prevalence of psychiatric disorder-related consequences in male prisoners: A cross-sectional study. Public Health, 154,11–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2017.10.001
