Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them
IntroductionNovel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), especially Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs), pose a substantial challenge to health and the security of the prison environment. This study analyses the phenomenon from the perspective of people in prison and that of professionals workin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00460/full |
| _version_ | 1818032824061526016 |
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| author | Ornella Corazza Ornella Corazza Sara Coloccini Sara Coloccini Shanna Marrinan Mike Vigar Caryl Watkins Cosimo Zene Attilio Negri Attilio Negri Andreas Aresti Sacha Darke Raffaella Rinaldi Antonio Metastasio Antonio Metastasio Giuseppe Bersani |
| author_facet | Ornella Corazza Ornella Corazza Sara Coloccini Sara Coloccini Shanna Marrinan Mike Vigar Caryl Watkins Cosimo Zene Attilio Negri Attilio Negri Andreas Aresti Sacha Darke Raffaella Rinaldi Antonio Metastasio Antonio Metastasio Giuseppe Bersani |
| author_sort | Ornella Corazza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionNovel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), especially Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs), pose a substantial challenge to health and the security of the prison environment. This study analyses the phenomenon from the perspective of people in prison and that of professionals working with them.MethodsA phenomenological qualitative approach was used to analyze self-reported experiences with ‘Spice’ (NPS) among users in prison. A semi-structured questionnaire was also disseminated among professionals working in these settings to better understand (a) the impact of NPS on their work; (b) perceived issues on safety in their working environment; (c) approaches used to tackle the phenomenon and best practices.ResultsPsychotic events resulting from the collected Spice accounts (5) were marked by hallucinations, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideations. Other emerging elements included fear, paranoia, inability to be with others, mistrust, breakdown and other risky behaviors. Overall, 186 responses from prison staff were collected across the country. 67% claimed NPS to have had a deep impact on their work as they commonly witnessed espisodes involving outbursts of anger, slurred speech, hallucinations, psychosis, and significant mental deterioration among those in prison. Some 91% have witnessed aggression at least once, with 53% experiencing direct harm. Suggested interventions included enhanced training and education (84%), improved detection (92%) and treatment and support services (93%).ConclusionsFindings highlight the urgent need for joint multi-disciplinary efforts to tackle the exponential escalation of NPS in prisons as well as to facilitate the recovery and societal reintegration of those affected. Phenomenology can be recommended as a valuable methods to study drug induced experiences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:13:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fa5ca57d8c544c694d5daf7e46d34f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:13:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fa5ca57d8c544c694d5daf7e46d34f82022-12-22T01:59:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402020-05-011110.3389/fpsyt.2020.00460543823Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With ThemOrnella Corazza0Ornella Corazza1Sara Coloccini2Sara Coloccini3Shanna Marrinan4Mike Vigar5Caryl Watkins6Cosimo Zene7Attilio Negri8Attilio Negri9Andreas Aresti10Sacha Darke11Raffaella Rinaldi12Antonio Metastasio13Antonio Metastasio14Giuseppe Bersani15Centre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United KingdomDepartment of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyCentre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United KingdomDepartment of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyCentre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United KingdomG4S Care and Justice Services, Swansea, United KingdomG4S Care and Justice Services, Swansea, United KingdomSchool of History, Religions and Philosophies, University of London (SOAS), London, United KingdomCentre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United KingdomSchool of Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyHistory, Sociology and Criminology, University of Westminster, London, United KingdomHistory, Sociology and Criminology, University of Westminster, London, United KingdomDepartment of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences Departmental Section of Legal Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyCentre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United KingdomCamden and Islington NHS Trust, London, United KingdomDepartment of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyIntroductionNovel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), especially Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs), pose a substantial challenge to health and the security of the prison environment. This study analyses the phenomenon from the perspective of people in prison and that of professionals working with them.MethodsA phenomenological qualitative approach was used to analyze self-reported experiences with ‘Spice’ (NPS) among users in prison. A semi-structured questionnaire was also disseminated among professionals working in these settings to better understand (a) the impact of NPS on their work; (b) perceived issues on safety in their working environment; (c) approaches used to tackle the phenomenon and best practices.ResultsPsychotic events resulting from the collected Spice accounts (5) were marked by hallucinations, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideations. Other emerging elements included fear, paranoia, inability to be with others, mistrust, breakdown and other risky behaviors. Overall, 186 responses from prison staff were collected across the country. 67% claimed NPS to have had a deep impact on their work as they commonly witnessed espisodes involving outbursts of anger, slurred speech, hallucinations, psychosis, and significant mental deterioration among those in prison. Some 91% have witnessed aggression at least once, with 53% experiencing direct harm. Suggested interventions included enhanced training and education (84%), improved detection (92%) and treatment and support services (93%).ConclusionsFindings highlight the urgent need for joint multi-disciplinary efforts to tackle the exponential escalation of NPS in prisons as well as to facilitate the recovery and societal reintegration of those affected. Phenomenology can be recommended as a valuable methods to study drug induced experiences.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00460/fullnovel psychoactive substancesspice drugsprison systemviolenceSynthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs) |
| spellingShingle | Ornella Corazza Ornella Corazza Sara Coloccini Sara Coloccini Shanna Marrinan Mike Vigar Caryl Watkins Cosimo Zene Attilio Negri Attilio Negri Andreas Aresti Sacha Darke Raffaella Rinaldi Antonio Metastasio Antonio Metastasio Giuseppe Bersani Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them Frontiers in Psychiatry novel psychoactive substances spice drugs prison system violence Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs) |
| title | Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them |
| title_full | Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them |
| title_fullStr | Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them |
| title_short | Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them |
| title_sort | novel psychoactive substances in custodial settings a mixed method investigation on the experiences of people in prison and professionals working with them |
| topic | novel psychoactive substances spice drugs prison system violence Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00460/full |
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