The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on drug service provision in European prisons
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 24 September 2021
Issue publication date: 18 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the impact of the COVID-19 containment measures on the provision of drug treatment and harm reduction services in European prisons in15 countries during the early phase of the pandemic (March –June 2020).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a mixed method research approach that triangulates different data sources, including the results of an on-line survey, the outcome of a focus group and four national case studies.
Findings
The emergence of COVID-19 led to a disruption in prison drug markets and resulted in a number of challenges for the drug services provision inside prison. Challenges for health services included the need to maintain the provision of drug-related interventions inside prison, while introducing a range of COVID-19 containment measures. To reduce contacts between people, many countries introduced measures for early release, resulted in around a 10% reduction of the prison population in Europe. Concerns were expressed around reduction of drug-related interventions, including group activities, services by external agencies, interventions in preparation for release and continuity of care.
Practical implications
Innovations aimed at improving drug service provision included telemedicine, better partnership between security and health staff and an approach to drug treatment more individualised. Future developments must be closely monitored.
Originality/value
The paper provides a unique and timely overview of the main issues, challenges and initial adaptations implemented for drug services in European prisons in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Elena Alvarez (Spain), Nadine Berndt (Luxembourg), Eva Salecl Božič (Slovenia), Mafalda Castro (Portugal), Marie-Laure Foulon (Luxembourg), Elodie Herrmann (Luxembourg), Susan Henriksen (Denmark), M. Kamphorst (The Netherlands) Yara Kassab (Luxembourg), Andrej Kastelic (Slovenia), Tomáš Koňák (Czechia), Mallinger Jil (Luxembourg), Erna Jutresa Medjed (Croatia), Els Plettinckx (Bekgium) Birute Semenaite (Lithuania), Zdeněk Šmerhovský (Czechia), Sonja Schmitt (Luxembourg), Heino Stöver (Germany) and the Steering group of the Health in Prison Programme of the WHO-Europe.
Citation
Montanari, L., Teltzrow, R., Van Malderen, S., Ranieri, R., Martín Peláez, J.A., Vandam, L., Mounteney, J., Pirona, A., Meroueh, F., Giraudon, I., Matias, J., Skarupova, K., Royuela, L. and Morel d’Arleux, J. (2021), "The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on drug service provision in European prisons", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-11-2020-0089
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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