Tackling prison drug markets: An exploratory qualitative study

Penfold, Clarissa; Turnbull, Paul J.; Webster, Russell J.

doi:10.1037/e635212007-001

Cited by 18 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…Contrary to the few other studies that are published on prison drug markets (e.g. Crewe, 2005Crewe, , 2009Penfold et al, 2005), drug exchange in Kollen prison did not follow market-based principles, but was rather organised as a gift-economy, where prisoners shared their drugs with vaguely stated expectations of receiving something in return in the future (Mjåland, 2014). A shared norm of reciprocating drug gifts made this form of exchange effective, and the stable supply of buprenorphine diverted from the dispensing of OMT helped produce a vibrant drug subculture in the prison.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 40%

“…Previous research has argued that prison-based drug rehabilitation may reduce the demand for illegal drugs in prisons (Penfold et al, 2005;Hedrich et al, 2012). A surprising finding emerging from this study was the vibrant drug subculture that existed among prisoners who participated in the two drug rehabilitation programmes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Penfold et al, 2005;Stöver et al, 2008). What Siri implies in the quote above, however, is that the availability of drugs is a particularly important explanation for drug use in a drug rehabilitation unit.…”

Section: Availability and Lack Of Attentionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, the article offers a study of drug use in the context of prison-based drug rehabilitation. There has been a rapid increase in prison-based drug rehabilitation in the Nordic countries the last 15 years (Kolind, Frank, Lindberg, & Tourunen, 2013), and research has shown that prison-based drug rehabilitation may reduce the demand for illegal drugs in prisons (Hedrich et al, 2012;Penfold et al, 2005). The article seeks to investigate how drug use is perceived and handled by participants and staff in two different drug rehabilitation programmes in a Norwegian prison.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is a tendency that individuals, who use stimulants such as amphetamines prior to imprisonment, use drugs with sedative and calming effects, such as heroin, tranquilisers or cannabis, during imprisonment (Boys et al, 2002;Bullock, 2003;Plugge, Yudkin, & Douglas, 2009). More generally, it is argued that the extent of drug use in prisons derives from a complex interaction between factors such as availability, drug control strategies and the drugs psychopharmacological properties (Bullock, 2003;Penfold, Turnbull, & Webster, 2005;Stöver et al, 2008). Imprisonment as such does not appear to motivate prisoners to reduce their drug taking behaviour in prison (Stöver et al, 2008, p. 53).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring prison drug use in the context of prison-based drug rehabilitation

Mjåland

2016

Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy

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Aims: The research on motivations and meanings associated with drug use in prisons has received little scholarly attention. Particularly, there are few studies analysing drug use in prisons from the perspective of both prisoners and prison officers, and in the context of prisonbased drug rehabilitation. This article explores prisoners and prison staffs perceptions on why drug use occurs in prison. Methods: The data is derived from participant observation and qualitative interviews (N ¼ 35) conducted during eight months of ethnographic fieldwork in two drug rehabilitation programmes in a closed Norwegian prison. Findings: Prison staff emphasises drug addiction and prisoners troubled life trajectories when explaining in-prison drug use. Prisoners, on the other hand, explain that drug use can be (a) a way to alleviate some of the pains of imprisonment; (b) an integral part of social life in prison; (c) a route to status in the prisoner community and (d) a defiant way to subvert institutional rules and expectations. Conclusions: Prison staff tends to privilege pre-prison characteristics when explaining prisoners' drug use, whereas prisoners tend to privilege how the prison context motivates and give meaning to their drug use. Implications for penal policy and practice are discussed.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 40%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Availability and Lack Of Attentionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Exploring prison drug use in the context of prison-based drug rehabilitation

Mjåland

2016

Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy

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NPS detection in prison: A systematic literature review of use, drug form, and analytical approaches

Vaccaro

Massariol

Guirguis

et al. 2022

Drug Testing and Analysis

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This paper presents a systematic literature review on the detection of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in prison settings. It includes the most frequently reported NPS classes, the routes and forms used for smuggling, and the methods employed to analyse biological and non‐biological samples. The search was carried out using MEDLINE (EBSCO), Scopus (ELSEVIER), PubMed (NCBI), and Web of Science (Clarivate) databases, along with reports from the grey literature in line with the PRISMA‐S guidelines. A total of 2708 records were identified, of which 50 met the inclusion criteria. Findings showed the most prevalent NPS class reported in prison was synthetic cannabinoids (SCs). The most frequently reported SCs in non‐biological samples were 4F‐MDMB‐BINACA, MDMB‐4en‐PINACA, and 5F‐ADB. These were smuggled mainly through the postal services deposited on paper or herbal matrices. Concentrations of SCs detected on seized paper ranged between 0.05 and 1.17 mg/cm2. The SCs most frequently reported in biological specimens (i.e., urine, blood, saliva, and wastewater) were 5F‐MDMB‐PICA, 4F‐MDMB‐BINACA, and MDMB‐4en‐PINACA. Concentrations of SCs reported in femoral blood and serum were 0.12–0.48 ng/ml and 34–17 ng/ml, respectively. Hyphenated techniques were predominantly employed and generally successful for the detection of NPS in biological (i.e., LC‐HRMS/MS) and non‐biological samples (i.e., LC‐HRMS/MS and GC–MS). The onsite technique IMS showed promise for detecting SCs in various forms; however, immunoassays were not recommended. Future work should focus on accurate in‐field detection of SCs deposited on paper and in urine and saliva to improve real‐time decision‐making, as well as wastewater and air monitoring for overall drug use trends.

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Changing trends in novel benzodiazepine use within Scottish prisons: detection, quantitation, prevalence, and modes of use

Marland,

Reid,

Brandon

et al. 2023

Drug Testing and Analysis

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Drug use within prisons is increasingly complex and unpredictable. Benzodiazepines are currently one of the most common drugs detected in individuals leaving Scottish prisons; however, understanding illicit benzodiazepine use within prisons and assessing the potential harm to individuals is challenging due to the lack of available analytical data on the substances circulating. Increasingly, materials, such as paper and clothing, infused with novel benzodiazepines have been identified as a smuggling route into Scottish prisons. Methods were developed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of benzodiazepines using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and applied to 495 seized samples from 11 Scottish prisons, including papers, cards, blotters, powders, tablets, and clothing. Evolution in the benzodiazepines being detected was demonstrated, with etizolam being the most prevalent throughout 2020/2021 following which flubromazepam and bromazolam detections increased. Additionally, significant changes in the smuggling methods and drug formats detected occurred over time following policy changes within prisons. These data represent the first reported widescale etizolam quantitation data and demonstrate high levels of variability across all sample types, most notably within tablets (0.34–2.33 mg per tablet). Additionally, concentration mapping of a whole seized card sample revealed the total concentration of drug present (312.5 mg) and demonstrated variability across the surface of the card (1.16–1.87 mg/cm2). These data highlight the challenges of consistent dosing for individuals and the high risks of unintentional overdose. Increased understanding of the challenge of such drug smuggling and benzodiazepine use will aid in the development of strategies to reduce supply and mitigate harm.

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Tackling prison drug markets: An exploratory qualitative study

Cited by 18 publications

References 0 publications

Exploring prison drug use in the context of prison-based drug rehabilitation

Exploring prison drug use in the context of prison-based drug rehabilitation

NPS detection in prison: A systematic literature review of use, drug form, and analytical approaches

Changing trends in novel benzodiazepine use within Scottish prisons: detection, quantitation, prevalence, and modes of use

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