Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Mail Stop B180, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2012;7(1):3. doi: 10.1186/1940-0640-7-3. Epub 2012 Mar 15.
Former inmates are at high risk for death from drug overdose, especially in the immediate post-release period. The purpose of the study is to understand the drug use experiences, perceptions of overdose risk, and experiences with overdose among former prisoners.
This qualitative study included former prison inmates (N=29) who were recruited within two months after their release. Interviewers conducted in-person, semi-structured interviews which explored participants' experiences and perceptions. Transcripts were analyzed utilizing a team-based method of inductive analysis.
The following themes emerged: 1) Relapse to drugs and alcohol occurred in a context of poor social support, medical co-morbidity and inadequate economic resources; 2) former inmates experienced ubiquitous exposure to drugs in their living environments; 3) intentional overdose was considered "a way out" given situational stressors, and accidental overdose was perceived as related to decreased tolerance; and 4) protective factors included structured drug treatment programs, spirituality/religion, community-based resources (including self-help groups), and family.
Former inmates return to environments that strongly trigger relapse to drug use and put them at risk for overdose. Interventions to prevent overdose after release from prison may benefit from including structured treatment with gradual transition to the community, enhanced protective factors, and reductions of environmental triggers to use drugs.
前囚犯因药物过量而死亡的风险很高，尤其是在刚出狱后的时期。本研究的目的是了解前囚犯的药物使用经历、对药物过量风险的认知以及药物过量的经历。
本定性研究纳入了在出狱后两个月内招募的 29 名前囚犯。访谈员采用半结构式的面谈方法进行了个人访谈，以探讨参与者的经历和认知。利用团队基础的归纳分析方法对转录本进行了分析。
出现了以下主题：1）在社会支持差、合并医学共病和经济资源不足的情况下，重新开始使用毒品和酒精；2）前囚犯在其生活环境中普遍接触到毒品；3）鉴于情境压力，故意药物过量被视为“出路”，而意外药物过量则被认为与耐受性降低有关；4）保护因素包括有组织的药物治疗计划、精神/宗教、社区资源（包括自助团体）和家庭。
前囚犯返回的环境强烈促使他们重新开始使用毒品，并使他们面临药物过量的风险。出狱后的药物过量预防干预措施可能受益于包括结构化治疗，逐渐过渡到社区，增强保护因素，并减少使用毒品的环境触发因素。
