by Stuart A. Kinner, Elizabeth Moore, Matthew J. Spittal, Devon Indig
Abstract:
Background There is emerging evidence that opiate substitution treatment (OST) in prison is associated with reduced injecting drug use (IDU). In Australia \OST\ is available in prison for men and women in all jurisdictions except Queensland, where it is available only for women. The aim of this study was to examine the association between in-prison \OST\ and in-prison \IDU\ in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. Methods Cross-sectional survey of Australian prisoners in \NSW\ (N&xa0;=&xa0;1128) and Queensland (N&xa0;=&xa0;1325). Lifetime \IDU\ and in-prison \IDU\ measured by self-report. Results Lifetime history of \IDU\ was significantly more common among females than males in both jurisdictions. Among those with a lifetime history of IDU, the lifetime prevalence of in-prison \IDU\ was significantly higher for males than females in both jurisdictions, however the magnitude of this sex difference was considerably greater in Queensland than in NSW. Conclusion Provision of \OST\ in prison is associated with a reduced lifetime prevalence of in-prison drug injection, among those with a lifetime history of IDU. Irrespective of \OST\ policies, women with a history of \IDU\ are less likely than their male counterparts to inject in prison; reasons for this novel and replicable sex difference require further examination.
Reference:
Opiate substitution treatment to reduce in-prison drug injection: A natural experiment (Stuart A. Kinner, Elizabeth Moore, Matthew J. Spittal, Devon Indig), In International Journal of Drug Policy, volume 24, no. 5, 2013.AbstractBackground There is emerging evidence that opiate substitution treatment (OST) in prison is associated with reduced injecting drug use (IDU). In Australia \OST\ is available in prison for men and women in all jurisdictions except Queensland, where it is available only for women. The aim of this study was to examine the association between in-prison \OST\ and in-prison \IDU\ in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. Methods Cross-sectional survey of Australian prisoners in \NSW\ (N&xa0;=&xa0;1128) and Queensland (N&xa0;=&xa0;1325). Lifetime \IDU\ and in-prison \IDU\ measured by self-report. Results Lifetime history of \IDU\ was significantly more common among females than males in both jurisdictions. Among those with a lifetime history of IDU, the lifetime prevalence of in-prison \IDU\ was significantly higher for males than females in both jurisdictions, however the magnitude of this sex difference was considerably greater in Queensland than in NSW. Conclusion Provision of \OST\ in prison is associated with a reduced lifetime prevalence of in-prison drug injection, among those with a lifetime history of IDU. Irrespective of \OST\ policies, women with a history of \IDU\ are less likely than their male counterparts to inject in prison; reasons for this novel and replicable sex difference require further examination.KeywordsAustralia ()
Bibtex Entry:
@article{Kinner2013460,
title = "Opiate substitution treatment to reduce in-prison drug injection: A natural experiment ",
journal = "International Journal of Drug Policy ",
volume = "24",
number = "5",
pages = "460 - 463",
year = "2013",
note = "",
issn = "0955-3959",
doi = "http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.01.004",
url = "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395913000054",
author = "Stuart A. Kinner and Elizabeth Moore and Matthew J. Spittal and Devon Indig",
keywords = "Injecting drug use",
keywords = "Opiate substitution treatment",
keywords = "Prison",
keywords = "Australia ",
abstract = "Background There is emerging evidence that opiate substitution treatment (OST) in prison is associated with reduced injecting drug use (IDU). In Australia \{OST\} is available in prison for men and women in all jurisdictions except Queensland, where it is available only for women. The aim of this study was to examine the association between in-prison \{OST\} and in-prison \{IDU\} in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. Methods Cross-sectional survey of Australian prisoners in \{NSW\} (N = 1128) and Queensland (N = 1325). Lifetime \{IDU\} and in-prison \{IDU\} measured by self-report. Results Lifetime history of \{IDU\} was significantly more common among females than males in both jurisdictions. Among those with a lifetime history of IDU, the lifetime prevalence of in-prison \{IDU\} was significantly higher for males than females in both jurisdictions, however the magnitude of this sex difference was considerably greater in Queensland than in NSW. Conclusion Provision of \{OST\} in prison is associated with a reduced lifetime prevalence of in-prison drug injection, among those with a lifetime history of IDU. Irrespective of \{OST\} policies, women with a history of \{IDU\} are less likely than their male counterparts to inject in prison; reasons for this novel and replicable sex difference require further examination. "
}