Smoke and mirrors: Prisoner health and behavioural outcomes following the prohibition of smoking in Queensland prisons

• In Event: Health and Illness-Related Issues Behind Bars

Abstract

International studies on prisoner smoking have consistently reported prevalence rates significantly higher than those in the community. Considerable health implications for smoking and non-smoking prisoners and staff, has resulted in a global movement to ban smoking in correctional facilities. Not surprisingly, such a significant change to something so imbedded in prison culture has often been met with resistance from prisoners, and high resumption rates upon release from prison. This is particularly the case when smoking cessation programs are poorly implemented.
This paper presents the design and preliminary findings from an ongoing evaluation of the short and long-term health and behavioural effects of the smoking ban introduced across all correctional facilities in Queensland, Australia, in May 2014. A sample of the high security prisoner population is being surveyed on their smoking habits and general health shortly after the ban introduction. Two follow-up surveys are being conducted with ex-prisoners under community supervision regarding their health and smoking resumption, two weeks and six months post-release. Prison incident and prisoner health data will also be examined using interrupted time series analyses. Findings have important implications regarding prisoner smoking cessation support program policies and critical times for post release support.

Authors

• James Michael Byrne, University of Massachusetts, Lowell / Griffith University

• Dominique de Andrade, Griffith University