Drug consumption levels in prisons

Issues

Verian produced the ESSPRI survey (Enquête sur la santé et les substances en prison), which was developed by OFDT(Observatoire français des drogues et des tendances addictives).

The use of drugs in prison is well known: tobacco, medicines diverted from their intended use, alcohol (prohibited in prison), cannabis, cocaine, crack, etc.

Studies have already been carried out to give an indication of drug consumption levels in prisons. But these studies have provided only fragmentary results, either restricted to pre-prison use or limited geographically.

What's more, carrying out a survey in prison presents methodological difficulties, as interviewers have to conform to a highly organised universe whose codes they are unfamiliar with.

Approach

We brought expertise in conducting surveys within challenging environments, particularly in correctional facilities. Our team has extensive experience in survey methodology, data collection, and project management, ensuring high data quality and adherence to ethical standards. A major challenge of this survey was participant recruitment, for which we utilised participatory recruitment approaches via peer networks.

We conducted this work through:

1. Preparation and training:
   • Organised training sessions for interviewers to familiarise them with the prison environment and its specific codes.
   • Training included understanding the unique challenges of conducting surveys in prisons and techniques for engaging with inmates.
2. Field protocol reminder:
   • Initial contact with prison management services to obtain their approval.
   • Provided an information letter and an information kit for selected inmates.
   • Required a minimum of 3 weeks between setup and the actual start of the survey.
3. Survey communication:
   • Used posters to inform and motivate inmates to participate.
   • Showed a presentation video about the survey to explain its objectives and assure anonymity and confidentiality.
4. Recruitment:
   • Selected a random sample from 30 randomly chosen prisons in France.
   • Employed participatory recruitment approaches via peer networks to engage inmates.
5. Data Collection:
   • Used structured questionnaires to collect data on the prevalence of seven psychoactive substances.
   • Conducted the survey from April 24, 2023, to June 29, 2023.

This is a public statistics survey estimating drug use during detention, the first to be nationally representative. It estimated the prevalence of use of seven psychoactive substances among inmates: tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, crack, MDMA (or ecstasy) and heroin.

The survey is based on a random sample of 1,094 male inmates incarcerated in 30 randomly selected prisons in France, and ran from April 24, 2023 to June 29, 2023. Of the 2,400 people selected at random, 1,094 questionnaires were usable, representing a response rate of 45.6%.

Results

The initial results confirm and, above all, objectify a reality known to those working in the field, public authorities and researchers alike: drug use in prisons is high. The prevalence of tobacco consumption is 2.5 times higher than for men on the outside: 63% of inmates smoke daily.

The prevalence of cannabis use is 10 times higher than outside: 26% of inmates smoke cannabis daily. This high level of use reflects a continuity of use pre-dating incarceration, and is often linked to self-therapeutic motivations (to be able to sleep, to calm down).

Alcohol use is lower, reflecting greater difficulties in obtaining supplies. The other substances studied (cocaine, crack, MDMA, heroin) are used less, but still at high levels. For example, 13% of inmates have used cocaine at least once in prison.