Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them

Corazza, O., Coloccini, S.M., Marrinan, S., Vigar, M., Watkins, C., Zene, C., Negri, A., Aresti, A., Darke, S., Rinaldi, R., Metastasio, A. and Bersani, G. 2020. Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 11 460. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00460

TitleNovel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them
TypeJournal article
AuthorsCorazza, O., Coloccini, S.M., Marrinan, S., Vigar, M., Watkins, C., Zene, C., Negri, A., Aresti, A., Darke, S., Rinaldi, R., Metastasio, A. and Bersani, G.
Abstract

Introduction: Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), especially Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs), pose a substantial challenge to health and the security of the prison environment. This study analyses the phenomenon from the perspective of people in prison and that of professionals working with them.
Methods: A phenomenological qualitative approach was used to analyze self-reported experiences with ‘Spice’ (NPS) among users in prison. A semi-structured questionnaire was also disseminated among professionals working in these settings to better understand (a) the impact of NPS on their work; (b) perceived issues on safety in their working environment; (c) approaches used to tackle the phenomenon and best practices.
Results: Psychotic events resulting from the collected Spice accounts (5) were marked by hallucinations, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideations. Other emerging elements included fear, paranoia, inability to be with others, mistrust, breakdown and other risky behaviors. Overall, 186 responses from prison staff were collected across the country. 67% claimed NPS to have had a deep impact on their work as they commonly witnessed episodes involving outbursts of anger, slurred speech, hallucinations, psychosis, and significant mental deterioration among those in prison. Some 91% have witnessed aggression at least once, with 53% experiencing direct harm. Suggested interventions included enhanced training and education (84%), improved detection (92%) and treatment and support services (93%).
Conclusions: Findings highlight the urgent need for joint multi-disciplinary efforts to tackle the exponential escalation of NPS in prisons as well as to facilitate the recovery and societal reintegration of those affected. Phenomenology can be recommended as a valuable methods to study drug induced experiences.

Article number460
JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry
Journal citation11
ISSN1664-0640
Year2020
PublisherFrontiers
Publisher's version
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00460
Publication dates
Published26 May 2020

Related outputs

The Importance of Social Visits to Prisoners
Darke, S. and Gordon, C. 2024. The Importance of Social Visits to Prisoners. Prison Service Journal. 272, pp. 33-40.

The importance of social visits to prisoners
Darke, S. and Gordon, C. 2024. The importance of social visits to prisoners. Prison Service Journal. 272, pp. 33-40.

Préfácio
Darke, S. 2023. Préfácio. in: Outra Visão

Las masacres del norte de brasil
Darke, S. 2023. Las masacres del norte de brasil. in: Gabriel Ignacio, Anitua e Iñaki and Rivera Beiras (ed.) Muertes Evitables: Violencia Institucional y Masacre en Cárceles Sudamericanas EDUNPAZ, Editorial Universitaria. pp. 301-344

Against bifurcation: why it’s in the best interests of convict criminology to be international in scope and not a collection of individual country level organisations
Aresti, A., Darke, S. and Ross, J.I. 2023. Against bifurcation: why it’s in the best interests of convict criminology to be international in scope and not a collection of individual country level organisations. Justice, Power and Resistance. 6 (2), pp. 246-261. https://doi.org/10.1332/HINO6106

Radical alternatives to punitive detention
Darke, S. 2022. Radical alternatives to punitive detention. in: Sozzo, M. (ed.) Prisons, Inmates and Governance in Latin America Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 329-363

What are the barriers to the development of convict criminology in Australia?
Carey, L., Aresti, A. and Darke, S. 2022. What are the barriers to the development of convict criminology in Australia? Journal of Prisoners on Prisons. 30 (1), pp. 77-96. https://doi.org/10.18192/jpp.v30i1.6224

Preface to the Brazilian edition
Darke, S. and Karam, M.L. 2021. Preface to the Brazilian edition. Tirant Brasil.

Coloniality, just war & carceral injustice in Brazil
Darke, S. and Khan, O. 2021. Coloniality, just war & carceral injustice in Brazil. Punishment and Society. 23 (5), pp. 723-740. https://doi.org/10.1177/14624745211041849

Rapport building and witness memory: Actions may ‘speak’ louder than words
Nahouli, Z., Dando, C.J., Mackenzie, J.-M. and Aresti, A. 2021. Rapport building and witness memory: Actions may ‘speak’ louder than words. PLoS ONE. 16 (8) e0256084. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256084

Global criminology 2: Transnational criminology
Darke, S. 2021. Global criminology 2: Transnational criminology. in: Case, S., Johnson, P., Manlow, D., Smith, R. and Williams, K. (ed.) The Oxford Textbook on Criminology Oxford Oxford University Press. pp. 409-439

Global criminology 1: Comparative criminology
Darke, S. 2021. Global criminology 1: Comparative criminology. in: Case, S., Johnson., P., Manlow, D., Smith, R. and Williams, K. (ed.) The Oxford Textbook on Criminology Oxford Oxford University Press. pp. 375-407

Self-governing prison communities
Darke, S. 2021. Self-governing prison communities. in: Darke, S., Garces, C., Duno-Gottberg, L. and Antillano, A. (ed.) Carceral Communities in Latin America: Troubling Prison Worlds in the 21st Century London Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 61-87

Ethnographic reflexivity and ethics of community in the new mass carceral zone
Garces, C. and Darke, S. 2021. Ethnographic reflexivity and ethics of community in the new mass carceral zone. in: Darke, S., Garces, C., Duno-Gottberg, L. and Antillano, A. (ed.) Carceral Communities in Latin America: Troubling Prison Worlds in the 21st Century Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 1-35

Crossing borders, pushing boundaries and privileging ‘marginalised’ voices: Shaping the future of Convict Criminology in the UK
Bozkurt, S., Merico, M., Aresti, A. and Darke, S. 2020. Crossing borders, pushing boundaries and privileging ‘marginalised’ voices: Shaping the future of Convict Criminology in the UK. in: Ross, J.I. and Vianello, F. (ed.) Convict Criminology for the Future London Routledge. pp. 21-34

Prisoner university partnerships at Westminster
Darke, S., Aresti, A., Faisal, A. B. and Ellis-Rexhi, N. 2020. Prisoner university partnerships at Westminster. in: Shecaira, S.S., Ferrarini, L.G.B. and Almeida, J.D.M. (ed.) Criminologoa: Estudos em Homenagem ao Alvino Augusto de Sá Belo Horizonte: D'Placido. pp. 475-498

Voicelessness: A Call to Action
Aresti, A. and Harriott, P. 2019. Voicelessness: A Call to Action. Journal of Prisoners on Prisons. 27 (2), pp. 37 - 53.

Editors: Special edition of Journal of Prisoners on Prisons: Twenty years of Convict Criminology
Aresti, A. and Darke, S. 2019. Editors: Special edition of Journal of Prisoners on Prisons: Twenty years of Convict Criminology. Journal of Prisoners on Prisons. 27 (2).

Supporting prisoners into academia
Darke, S., Aresti, A. and Ellis-Rexhi, N. 2018. Supporting prisoners into academia. in: Friso, V. and Ducembrotto, L. (ed.) Università e Carcere: Il Diritto allo Studio tra Vincoli e Progettualità Guerini e Associati. pp. 217-237

Absent voices: Experiencing Prison Life From Both Sides of the Fence: A Turkish Females Perspective
Bozkurt, S. and Aresti, A. 2018. Absent voices: Experiencing Prison Life From Both Sides of the Fence: A Turkish Females Perspective. Journal of Prisoners on Prisons. 27 (2), pp. 17-36.

Interpreting the Development and Growth of Convict Criminology in South America
Ross, J.I. and Darke, S. 2018. Interpreting the Development and Growth of Convict Criminology in South America . Journal of Prisoners on Prisons. 27 (2), pp. 108-117.

Developing Insider Perspectives in Research Activism
Aresti, A. and Darke, S. 2018. Developing Insider Perspectives in Research Activism. Journal of Prisoners on Prisons. 27 (2), pp. 3-16.

Conviviality and Survival: Co-Producing Brazilian Prison Order
Darke, S. 2018. Conviviality and Survival: Co-Producing Brazilian Prison Order. Palgrave Macmillan.

Informal dynamics of survival in Latin American prisons
Darke, S. and Garces, C. 2017. Informal dynamics of survival in Latin American prisons. H M Prison Service.

Book review: Voices from American Prisons: Faith, Education and Healing by Stern, K.
Darke, S. 2017. Book review: Voices from American Prisons: Faith, Education and Healing by Stern, K. Prison Service Journal. 233, pp. 46-47.

Who is really in control of Brazil's Prisons?
Darke, S. 2017. Who is really in control of Brazil's Prisons? The Conversation.

What's Causing Brazil's Prison Massacres?
Darke, S. and Garces, C. 2017. What's Causing Brazil's Prison Massacres? Centre for Crime and Justice Studies.

Surviving in the new mass carceral zone
Darke, S. and Garces, C. 2017. Surviving in the new mass carceral zone. Prison Service Journal. 229, pp. 2-9.

Book review: Punishment in Europe: A Critical Anatomy of Penal Systems by Ruggiero, V. & Ryan, M. (eds.)
Darke, S. 2016. Book review: Punishment in Europe: A Critical Anatomy of Penal Systems by Ruggiero, V. & Ryan, M. (eds.). Prison Service Journal. 227, pp. 46-48.

Connecting prisons and universities through higher education
Darke, S. and Aresti, A. 2016. Connecting prisons and universities through higher education. Prison Service Journal. (225), pp. 26-32.

Practicing convict criminology: lessons learned from British academic activism
Aresti, A. and Darke, S. 2016. Practicing convict criminology: lessons learned from British academic activism. Critical Criminology: an International Journal. 24 (4), pp. 533-547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-016-9327-6

Book review: Carceral geography: spaces and practices of incarceration (by Dominique Moran)
Darke, S. 2016. Book review: Carceral geography: spaces and practices of incarceration (by Dominique Moran). Prison Service Journal. 225, pp. 58-59.

From dispersed to monopolized violence: expansion and consolidation of the Primeiro Comando da Capital's hegemony in São Paulo's prisons
Dias Camila and Darke, S. 2016. From dispersed to monopolized violence: expansion and consolidation of the Primeiro Comando da Capital's hegemony in São Paulo's prisons. Crime, Law and Social Change. 65 (3), pp. 213-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-015-9578-2

Bridging the gap: giving public voice to prisoners and former prisoners through research activism
Aresti, A., Darke, S. and Manlow, D. 2016. Bridging the gap: giving public voice to prisoners and former prisoners through research activism. Prison Service Journal. 224, pp. 3-13.

Latin American prisons
Darke, S. and Karam, M.L. 2016. Latin American prisons. in: Jewkes, Y., Bennett, J. and Crewe, B. (ed.) Handbook on prisons. 2nd edition Abington Routledge.

Open prisons: An ex-prisoner perspective
Aresti, A. and Darke, S. 2015. Open prisons: An ex-prisoner perspective. Prison Service Journal. 217, pp. 14-16.

Book Review: The globalization of supermax prisons
Darke, S. 2015. Book Review: The globalization of supermax prisons. International Criminal Justice Review. 25 (2), pp. 215-216. https://doi.org/10.1177/1057567714565234

Recoverers helping recoverers: discipline and peer-facilitated reform in Brazilian faith-based prisons
Darke, S. 2015. Recoverers helping recoverers: discipline and peer-facilitated reform in Brazilian faith-based prisons. in: Miller, V. and Campbell, J. (ed.) Transnational penal cultures: new perspectives on discipline, punishment and desistance London Routledge. pp. 217-229

Prison Life, Sociology of: Recent Perspectives from the United Kingdom
Drake, D., Darke, S. and Earle, R. 2015. Prison Life, Sociology of: Recent Perspectives from the United Kingdom. in: Wright, J. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences. 2nd edition Oxford Elsevier.

Developing convict criminology beyond North America
Ross, J.I., Darke, S., Aresti, A., Newbold, G. and Earle, R. 2014. Developing convict criminology beyond North America. International Criminal Justice Review. 24 (2), pp. 121-133. https://doi.org/10.1177/1057567714531484

Managing without guards in a Brazilian police lockup
Darke, S. 2014. Managing without guards in a Brazilian police lockup. Focaal. 68, pp. 55-67. https://doi.org/10.3167/fcl.2014.680104

Closing and opening prisons: interview with Jeremy Wright, minister for prisons and probation
Darke, S. 2014. Closing and opening prisons: interview with Jeremy Wright, minister for prisons and probation. Prison Service Journal. 215, pp. 28-33.

Contraction in an age of expansion: a convict perspective
Aresti, A. 2014. Contraction in an age of expansion: a convict perspective. Prison Service Journal. 211, pp. 19-24.

Comunidades Prisionais Autoadministradas: o Fenômeno APAC [Self-governing prison communities: the APAC phenomenon]
Darke, S. 2014. Comunidades Prisionais Autoadministradas: o Fenômeno APAC [Self-governing prison communities: the APAC phenomenon]. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Criminais. 107, pp. 257-276.

Inmate governance in Brazilian prisons
Darke, S. 2013. Inmate governance in Brazilian prisons. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice. 52 (3), pp. 272-284. https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12010

Entangled staff-inmate relations
Darke, S. 2013. Entangled staff-inmate relations. Prison Service Journal. 207, pp. 16-22.

Informal prison dynamics in Africa and Latin America
Garces, C., Martin, T. and Darke, S. 2013. Informal prison dynamics in Africa and Latin America. Criminal Justice Matters. 91 (1), pp. 26-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/09627251.2013.778756

On the inside: Insider perspectives on prison reform
Darke, S. 2012. On the inside: Insider perspectives on prison reform. Reclaim Justice Network.

The out for good resettlement project
Edgar, K., Cornish, N. and Aresti, A. 2012. The out for good resettlement project. The Prison Reform Trust.

Administrando o cotidiano da prisao no Brasil (Managing everyday prison life in Brazil)
Darke, S. and Karam, M.L. 2012. Administrando o cotidiano da prisao no Brasil (Managing everyday prison life in Brazil). in: Discursos Sediciosos N.19/20: crime, direito e sociedade Brazil Editora Revan.

Developing a convict criminology group in the UK
Aresti, A. 2012. Developing a convict criminology group in the UK. Journal of Prisoners on Prisons. 21 (1/2).

Estacao Carandiru
Darke, S. 2012. Estacao Carandiru. Prison Service Journal. 199, pp. 26-28.

British convict criminology: developing critical insider perspectives on prison
Aresti, A., Darke, S. and Earle, R. 2012. British convict criminology: developing critical insider perspectives on prison. Inside Time.

The enforcement approach to crime prevention
Darke, S. 2011. The enforcement approach to crime prevention. Critical Social Policy. 31 (3), pp. 410-430. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018311405012

Unlocking potential: performance evaluation of Penrose
Farrant, F. and Aresti, A. 2011. Unlocking potential: performance evaluation of Penrose. Roehampton University.

'Doing time after time’: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of reformed ex-prisoners experiences of self-change, identity and career opportunities
Aresti, A., Eatough, V. and Brooks-Gordon, B. 2010. 'Doing time after time’: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of reformed ex-prisoners experiences of self-change, identity and career opportunities. Psychology, Crime and Law. 16 (3), pp. 169-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/10683160802516273

A prevenção da criminalidade na Inglaterra e no País de Gales (Crime prevention in England and Wales)
Darke, S. 2009. A prevenção da criminalidade na Inglaterra e no País de Gales (Crime prevention in England and Wales). Ultima Ratio. 3, pp. 199-240.

Crime and disorder
Darke, S. 2007. Crime and disorder. PhD thesis University of Westminster School of Law https://doi.org/10.34737/91x70

Book review: Zero Tolerance or Community Tolerance? Managing Crime in High Crime Areas by Walklate, S. & Evans, K.
Darke, S. 2001. Book review: Zero Tolerance or Community Tolerance? Managing Crime in High Crime Areas by Walklate, S. & Evans, K. Theoretical Criminology. 5 (2), pp. 265-267. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480601005002007

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/v0304/novel-psychoactive-substances-in-custodial-settings-a-mixed-method-investigation-on-the-experiences-of-people-in-prison-and-professionals-working-with-them


Share this

Usage statistics

150 total views
98 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.