Heroin use impairs smoking cessation among Australian prisoners.

Background: Prisoners have extremely high rates of smoking with rates 3-4 times higher than the general community. Many prisoners have used heroin. The aims of this study were to investigate the impact of heroin use on smoking cessation and the social determinants of health among prisoners.

Implementation of a smoke-free policy in a high secure mental health inpatient facility: staff survey to describe experience and attitudes.

Background: In 2008, a new forensic hospital was opened as a totally smoke-free facility. This study describes the attitudes and experience of mental health professionals working in the high secure mental health facility three years after it was opened. It is part of a larger evaluation describing the experience of current and discharged hospital patients.

Smoking and other drug characteristics of aboriginal and non-aboriginal prisoners in australia.

Introduction and Aim. Although tobacco and alcohol use have declined substantially in the Australian community, substance use among prisoners remains high. The aim was to compare the smoking, drug, and alcohol characteristics, sociodemographic profile, and general health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal male prisoners in a smoking cessation intervention.

Evaluation of a smoke-free forensic hospital: patients' perspectives on issues and benefits.

Introduction And Aims: In 2008, a new high secure forensic mental health inpatient hospital was opened in New South Wales as a smoke-free facility. This study describes the experience of patients and the impact of the smoke-free policy on smoking intentions and practice.

Design And Methods: The study methods included: (1) four semi-structured focus groups with 21 current patients; (2) patient surveys collected from 45 current patients; and (3) follow-up survey from 15 discharged patients.

The challenges of reducing tobacco use among prisoners.

Issue: The prevalence of smoking among prisoners is exceptionally high and is often comorbid with alcohol and drug problems, mental illness and other health problems. This review paper summarises the literature and available research related to smoking prevalence and smoking cessation initiatives among prisoners and identifies areas of need for further research and intervention.

Approach: This paper highlights three studies conducted in the New South Wales prison system which attempt to address these high rates of smoking including a feasibility study, a focus group study and a randomised controlled trial.

Cardiovascular risk among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal smoking male prisoners: inequalities compared to the wider community.

Background: Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) were collected as part of a randomised controlled trial of a multi-component intervention to reduce smoking among male prisoners. Cross-sectional baseline data on CVRF were compared among smoking male prisoners and males of similar age in the general population.

Methods: 425 smoking prisoners were recruited (n = 407 in New South Wales; 18 in Queensland), including 15% of Aboriginal descent (mean age 33 years; median sentence length 3.