A Qualitative Study of Smoking Behaviors among Newly Released Justice-Involved Men and Women in New York City

Abstract

Long-term effects of cigarette smoking result in an estimated 443,000 deaths each year, including approximately 49,400 deaths due to exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco is a major risk factor for a variety of chronic health problems, including certain cancers and heart disease. In this article, authors present qualitative findings derived from individual interviews with men and women who were incarcerated in New York state and New York City. Participants were 60 racially and ethnically diverse men and women ages 21 through 60 (M = 46.42, SD = 6.88). Of the participants interviewed, 91.7 percent released from a smoke-free correctional facility resumed cigarette smoking and 8.3 percent remained abstinent. Daily consumption ranged from smoking four cigarettes to 60 cigarettes. The four themes that emerged from the study were (1) lifetime exposure to cigarette smoking influences smoking behavior; (2) cigarettes help relieve stress and are pleasurable; (3) there is a relationship between access, availability, and relapse; and (4) smoking cessation strategies are available. Negative influences from participants' families and peers, stressful housing situations, and mandated programs emerged from this study as key challenges to abstaining from smoking cigarettes. Involving family members and partners in smoking cessation interventions could influence newly released justice-involved men and women not to resume cigarette smoking and possibly maintain long-term abstinence.

Offenders’ perceptions of the UK prison smoking ban

“…Cropsey and Kristeller (2005) also found that 76 per cent of offenders continued to smoke in US prisons after the ban. Similarly, evidence suggests that smoking bans alone have little effect of maintenance of smoking cessation upon release (de Andrade and Kinner, 2017; Valera et al , 2016). On the other hand, evidence has also demonstrated the health benefits associated with these bans.…”

A Qualitative Study of the Implementation and Continued Delivery of Complete and Partial Smoke-Free Policies Across England’s Prison Estate

“…Potential predictors of post-release smoking outlined in this study correspond with findings from research completed in the U.S. and Australia where participants have been followed up after their release. Identified reasons for relapse include a demonstration of resistance to enforced abstinence while in prison; 43 belief that tobacco would alleviate the stress associated with release; 43 , 44 finding smoking pleasurable; 45 resumption of substance misuse; 46 smoking being associated with feelings of/or celebrating freedom; 43 , 47 and returning to homes, housing facilities, or social environments where smoking is prevalent. 43 , 44 Additional reasons for smoking relapse which appear to be specific to the prison system in England and outlined in this study include the use of e-cigarettes as a nicotine maintenance tool, e-cigarette users not taking their prison issue device home, and tobacco confiscated on arrest being returned to prisoners at the point of release.…”

“…Identified reasons for relapse include a demonstration of resistance to enforced abstinence while in prison; 43 belief that tobacco would alleviate the stress associated with release; 43 , 44 finding smoking pleasurable; 45 resumption of substance misuse; 46 smoking being associated with feelings of/or celebrating freedom; 43 , 47 and returning to homes, housing facilities, or social environments where smoking is prevalent. 43 , 44 Additional reasons for smoking relapse which appear to be specific to the prison system in England and outlined in this study include the use of e-cigarettes as a nicotine maintenance tool, e-cigarette users not taking their prison issue device home, and tobacco confiscated on arrest being returned to prisoners at the point of release. No research has specifically explored the resumption of tobacco smoking on arrival to open conditions in England, however participants in this study anticipated similar reasons resulting in relapse on release to the community; easy access to tobacco (offered via “smoker packs”) on arrival, using tobacco as a stress relief due to changing circumstances, and entering an environment with high smoking prevalence.…”

Effects of a Statewide Tobacco Cessation Program Among Individuals Involved With Arkansas Community Correction

“…Our results showed very low availability of nicotine replacement therapy or other tobacco cessation medications for this community corrections population (pharmacotherapy was reported by < 4% of the sample). Valera, Bachman, and Rucker (2016) reported that more than 60% of their sample of formerly incarcerated men on probation or parole desired access to pharmacotherapy. Given the well-established effectiveness of pharmacotherapy at helping individuals successfully quit tobacco (generally increasing the chances that an individual will maintain abstinence over 6 months by 2 or 3 times), along with the desire of JI individuals to utilize pharmacotherapy, individuals within community corrections would benefit from a dramatic increase in access to FDA-approved pharmacotherapy such as nicotine replacement therapies or other prescription medications.…”