MIND-ALTERING DRUGS (FROM NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH SERVICES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS SECOND, PROCEEDINGS, 1978 - SEE NCJ-58532)

• NCJ Number: 58536
• Author(s): T L CLANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: American Medical Assoc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE USES OF MIND-ALTERING DRUGS ON INMATES ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IT MAY SEEM TO DOCTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS DEALING WITH INMATES THAT MIND-ALTERING DRUGS SUCH AS MILTOWN, QUAALUDE, AND VALIUM, SOMETIMES ARE USEFUL IN DEALING WITH THE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION EXPERIENCED BY MANY PRISONERS AS A RESULT OF INCARCERATION, AS WELL AS IN REDUCING DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR. A PSYCHIATRIST EXPERIENCED IN USING SUCH DRUGS WITH INMATES QUICKLY LEARNS, HOWEVER, THAT THEIR EXTENSIVE USE CARRIES WITH IT THE DANGERS OF OVER-DEPENDENCY. THE PRISONER INTOXICATED ON MINOR TRANQUILIZERS IS NOT A WELL-CONTROLLED PERSON; THE DRUGS ACT, AS DOES ALCOHOL, TO REDUCE INHIBITIONS AND RELEASE AGGRESSION. SELF-DIRECTED AGGRESSION AND ATTACKS ON OTHERS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED IN PRISON UNITS WHERE DRUGS HAVE BEEN USED INAPPROPRIATELY. THE OVERUSE OF DRUGS TENDS TO OCCUR WITH INMATES FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: (1) PRISONERS ARE EXPERIENCED WITH DRUG USE AND THEY FIND WAYS TO MANIPULATE PRISON DOCTORS TO OBTAIN THEM TO RELIEVE ANY MENTAL DISCOMFORT, (2) LACK OF ADEQUATE SPACE AND PERSONNEL TO ASSURE REASONABLE LIVING CONDITIONS STIMULATES EMOTIONAL STRESS THAT INMATES PERCEIVE CAN BE EASED BY MIND-ALTERING DRUGS, AND (3) THE TENDENCY OF DRUG COMPANIES AND PRISON AUTHORITIES TO USE DRUGS FOR REDUCING OR ELIMINATING SOCIOPATHIC AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. WHILE SOME BELIEVE THE ANSWER TO INMATE DRUG ABUSE IS TO PROHIBIT COMPLETELY DRUG USE IN MEDICALLY TREATING INMATES, THE VALUE OF APPROPRIATELY USING DRUGS CONTRADICTS THIS APPROACH. THE VALUE OF MIND-ALTERING DRUGS IN REDUCING IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND PERMITTING NORMAL FUNCTIONING IS WELL DOCUMENTED. TO ASSURE THE APPROPRIATE USE OF DRUGS WITH INMATES, PROCEDURES SHOULD INCLUDE USING DRUG-KNOWLEDGEABLE PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSES WHO CAN SCREEN AND MONITOR INMATE DRUG USE, PRESCRIBING AND ADMINISTERING DRUGS ONLY IN PRISON UNITS WITH MEDICAL PERSONNEL ON DUTY DAILY, AND MAINTAINING A HYGIENIC MILIEU IN IN THE PRISON TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE NEED FOR DRUG TREATMENT. THESE APPROACHES REQUIRE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEDICAL STAFF AND INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS.