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BEDREHELSE-Bedre helse og livskvalitet

PriSUD-Nordic: Intervening substance use disorders in the prison population - A public health opportunity

Alternative title: PriSUD-Norden: Behandling av ruslidelser i fengselspopulasjonen - en mulighet for bedre folkehelse

Awarded: NOK 12.0 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

301535

Application Type:

Project Period:

2020 - 2025

Subject Fields:

Partner countries:

PriSUD-Nordic: Intervening substance use disorders in the prison population - A public health opportunity About 50% of the prison population have substance use disorders (SUD) when they enter the prison and after release, the risk of overdose death and relapse to drug use is high. Thus, the detection of SUDs, accompanied by adequate treatment will significantly improve the overall health status of the communities from which the prisoners come and to which they return. PriSUD-Nordic is the first longitudinal study to investigate the epidemiology of people with SUD in three Nordic countries. The overall objective of PriSUD-Nordic is to develop new knowledge contributing to better mental and physical health, improved quality of life and better life expectancies among people with SUD in prison. The project looks at three different periods relating to incarceration: the time prior to imprisonment, the time during imprisonment and post-release. PriSUD-Nordic will take advantage of the Nordic potential for research, building on strong healthcare registers, publicly owned universities and university hospitals, and a high appreciation for medical research among the public and politicians. To reach the ambitious aims of the PriSUD-Nordic study, we have put together a multidisciplinary research group who will analyse a wide range of existing, high-quality Nordic registry data available for research. In addition, a qualitative study, based on ethnographic fieldwork and semi-structured interviews, will explore how SUD treatment is implemented and integrated into the prison context. An important goal of the project is to communicate all research results to a wide range of target groups, such as current and former inmates, prison staff, user organizations, healthcare service providers, policymakers and the general public.

A prison stay should be regarded as a window of opportunity for people with substance use disorders (SUD): screening and diagnosis should take place and evidence-based treatment should be offered. The result will be better mental and physical health, improved quality of life and better life expediencies among former prisoners. However, a prison stay remains a black box. Even though research has documented the prison population in terms of their situation before incarceration, and their risks following release, none have focused on the time of imprisonment. Hence, we do not know if prisoners are adequately screened for and diagnosed with SUD when they enter prison, whether people diagnosed with SUD have access to treatment in prison, or what their treatment outcomes are post-release. To ensure efficient, high-quality interventions and health promotion for people with SUD in prison, PriSUD-Nordic will be the first international, longitudinal study investigating people with SUD in different periods relating to incarceration: the time prior to imprisonment, the time during imprisonment and post-release. In order to reach the ambitious aims of the PriSUD-Nordic study, we have put together a multidisciplinary research group enabling a mixed-methods approach. The project is organized into three scientific work packages related to: epidemiology (WPI), risk Assessment (WPII), and qualitative in-depth methods (WPIII). Successful research in this field will have the potential to identify significant areas of benefit and to have important implications for ongoing policy related to SUD in prison.

Publications from Cristin

Funding scheme:

BEDREHELSE-Bedre helse og livskvalitet