Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Abuse Among Inmates in Kosovo Prisons
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in drug use among inmates in prisons worldwide, including Kosovo, due to restrictions on visitation and addiction recovery programs. Objectives: This study analyzed drug use among 33,144 inmates in Kosovo prisons over nine years and aimed to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Medical Research and Development Corporation
2023-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Biomedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijbm.org/articles/i50/ijbm_13(2)_oa23.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827929225099739136 |
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| author | Milazim Gjocaj Shqipe Ukelli Labinot Shahini Klodeta Kabashi Blerim Krasniqi Arian Idrizaj Serbeze Kabashi Hedije Maloku Granit Shatri Adelina Rexhepi Vala Prekazi Nora Salihaj Sefedin Muçaj |
| author_facet | Milazim Gjocaj Shqipe Ukelli Labinot Shahini Klodeta Kabashi Blerim Krasniqi Arian Idrizaj Serbeze Kabashi Hedije Maloku Granit Shatri Adelina Rexhepi Vala Prekazi Nora Salihaj Sefedin Muçaj |
| author_sort | Milazim Gjocaj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in drug use among inmates in prisons worldwide, including Kosovo, due to restrictions on visitation and addiction recovery programs.
Objectives: This study analyzed drug use among 33,144 inmates in Kosovo prisons over nine years and aimed to identify potential solutions, foster collaboration between relevant institutions, and develop better programs and treatments.
Methods and Results: The study is based on data from the medical files of inmates examined over nine years (2014-2022) in 10 Kosovo prison health units. From the total number of inmates, 8.22% were identified as drug users, and the percentage of drug use among inmates steadily increased from 5.8% in 2014 to 15.48% in 2019. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, there was a decrease of 1.16% (from 15.48% to 14.28%), which was the first decrease in six years. The study also found a disproportional decrease in the number of inmates admitted during the same period. The Medico Psycho Therapeutic Center “Labyrinth” showed a similar trend. Suicide attempts, death under custody, and tobacco use increased linearly, with alcohol use remaining stable.
Conclusion: The study highlights the need for effective prevention, treatment, and management strategies for drug use among inmates and the general population in Kosovo. Continuous collaboration between relevant institutions and stakeholders is essential to improve the health and well-being of those affected by drug use and create a brighter future for Kosovo. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:19:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e79889c023c4e3b89e55236ee87f03b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-0510 2158-0529 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:19:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | International Medical Research and Development Corporation |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Biomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e79889c023c4e3b89e55236ee87f03b2023-06-09T21:48:16ZengInternational Medical Research and Development CorporationInternational Journal of Biomedicine2158-05102158-05292023-06-0113232132510.21103/Article13(2)_OA23Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Abuse Among Inmates in Kosovo PrisonsMilazim Gjocaj0Shqipe Ukelli1Labinot Shahini2Klodeta Kabashi3Blerim Krasniqi4Arian Idrizaj5Serbeze Kabashi6Hedije Maloku7Granit Shatri8Adelina Rexhepi9Vala Prekazi10Nora Salihaj11Sefedin Muçaj12Alma Mater Europaea Campus College “Rezonanca”, Prishtina, Kosovo; Prison Health Department, Ministry of Health, KosovoAlma Mater Europaea Campus College “Rezonanca”, Prishtina, Kosovo; Prison Health Department, Ministry of Health, KosovoFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, KosovoAlma Mater Europaea Campus College “Rezonanca”, Prishtina, KosovoAlma Mater Europaea Campus College “Rezonanca”, Prishtina, KosovoAlma Mater Europaea Campus College “Rezonanca”, Prishtina, KosovoFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, KosovoPrison Health Department, Ministry of Health, KosovoPrison Health Department, Ministry of Health, KosovoPrison Health Department, Ministry of Health, KosovoPrison Health Department, Ministry of Health, KosovoPrison Health Department, Ministry of Health, KosovoFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo; National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, Prishtina, KosovoBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in drug use among inmates in prisons worldwide, including Kosovo, due to restrictions on visitation and addiction recovery programs. Objectives: This study analyzed drug use among 33,144 inmates in Kosovo prisons over nine years and aimed to identify potential solutions, foster collaboration between relevant institutions, and develop better programs and treatments. Methods and Results: The study is based on data from the medical files of inmates examined over nine years (2014-2022) in 10 Kosovo prison health units. From the total number of inmates, 8.22% were identified as drug users, and the percentage of drug use among inmates steadily increased from 5.8% in 2014 to 15.48% in 2019. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, there was a decrease of 1.16% (from 15.48% to 14.28%), which was the first decrease in six years. The study also found a disproportional decrease in the number of inmates admitted during the same period. The Medico Psycho Therapeutic Center “Labyrinth” showed a similar trend. Suicide attempts, death under custody, and tobacco use increased linearly, with alcohol use remaining stable. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for effective prevention, treatment, and management strategies for drug use among inmates and the general population in Kosovo. Continuous collaboration between relevant institutions and stakeholders is essential to improve the health and well-being of those affected by drug use and create a brighter future for Kosovo.http://www.ijbm.org/articles/i50/ijbm_13(2)_oa23.pdfinmatedrug abusecovid-19preventionmanagement strategieskosovo |
| spellingShingle | Milazim Gjocaj Shqipe Ukelli Labinot Shahini Klodeta Kabashi Blerim Krasniqi Arian Idrizaj Serbeze Kabashi Hedije Maloku Granit Shatri Adelina Rexhepi Vala Prekazi Nora Salihaj Sefedin Muçaj Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Abuse Among Inmates in Kosovo Prisons International Journal of Biomedicine inmate drug abuse covid-19 prevention management strategies kosovo |
| title | Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Abuse Among Inmates in Kosovo Prisons |
| title_full | Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Abuse Among Inmates in Kosovo Prisons |
| title_fullStr | Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Abuse Among Inmates in Kosovo Prisons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Abuse Among Inmates in Kosovo Prisons |
| title_short | Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drug Abuse Among Inmates in Kosovo Prisons |
| title_sort | effects of the covid 19 pandemic on drug abuse among inmates in kosovo prisons |
| topic | inmate drug abuse covid-19 prevention management strategies kosovo |
| url | http://www.ijbm.org/articles/i50/ijbm_13(2)_oa23.pdf |
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