New Psychoactive Substances and Violence within a UK Prison Setting

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychiatry
• Substance Abuse Research
• Criminology

Background:

• New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) pose significant safety risks within prison environments for both inmates and staff.
• Understanding the prevalence and impact of NPS is crucial for correctional facility management and security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of NPS use among male prisoners in a UK category C facility.
• To examine the association between NPS use, violence, and impulsivity in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to 158 male category C prisoners.
• Data collected included substance use patterns (NPS, traditional drugs, none) and self-reported violence and impulsivity.

Main Results:

• Lifetime NPS use was reported by 62% of participants, exceeding traditional drug use.
• NPS users exhibited significantly higher odds of engaging in violence towards others and property, and higher impulsivity.
• No significant interaction was found between NPS use and impulsivity in violent acts.

Conclusions:

• NPS use is a widespread issue in prisons, contributing to increased violence and influenced by impulsivity.
• The findings underscore the necessity for specialized treatment and prevention strategies tailored to NPS users within correctional settings.