‘Keeping a lid on it’: Exploring ‘problematisations’ of prescribed medication in prisons in the UK

The risk matrix: Drug‐related deaths in prisons in England and Wales, 2015–2020

“…Smoking bans contributed to use of NPS and adapting vaping devices with associated hazards (Brown et al, 2022;Gray & Ralphs, 2021). For some, their excess or illicit use of substances may be a form of selfmedication, influenced partly by distorted availability of medical assistance (Duke & Trebilcock, 2022).…”

A global review of prison drug smuggling routes and trends in the usage of drugs in prisons

“…The misuse of prescription medications apart from OST medications, such as tranquilizers, antidepressants (mirtazapine), benzodiazepines, antipsychotics (quetiapine, olanzapine), anticonvulsants (pregabalin, gabapentin), and even paracetamol (acetaminophen), has also been reported to be an increasing problem in many prisons, particularly for women (Bi‐Mohammed et al, 2017; Duke & Trebilcock, 2022; Hampton et al, 2015; May et al, 2019; O'Hagan & Hardwick, 2017; Penfold et al, 2005; Rousselet et al, 2019; Sahajian et al, 2017; Tamburello et al, 2017; Zurhold et al, 2005). Women have been found to be more likely to misuse prescription medications than men in both prisons and the community (UNODC, 2021).…”

“…However, imprisonment alone is associated with a number of problems that can encourage drug use as a coping mechanism, such as the stressful prison environment, feelings of loneliness, and feelings of lack of control over their life. The other main reasons for drug use in prison have been found to be to relieve boredom and pass time, relieve insomnia, and manage withdrawal symptoms (Boys et al, 2002; Bullock, 2003; Calzavara et al, 2003; Cope, 2000, 2003; Dillon, 2001; dos Santos et al, 2014; Duke & Trebilcock, 2022; George et al, 2009; Gryczynski et al, 2021; Kolind, 2013; Mjåland, 2016; Monico et al, 2021; O'Hagan & Hardwick, 2017; Penfold et al, 2005; Ritter et al, 2013; Rogers et al, 2022; Rousselet et al, 2019; Wakeling & Lynch, 2020).…”