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Prisons, corrective, custodial and mental health settings are places where many people
reside and work. People in these settings have as much right as anyone else in the
community to be protected from harmful secondhand smoke contaminating
their homes and workplaces, and to get help to quit smoking.
Smokefree
policies in these settings would protect both smoking and non-smoking
prisoners, clients and staff from secondhand smoke, and would encourage
smokers to quit. Smoking rates are currently high among prisoners
and mental health sufferers; intention to quit smoking is also high. Below
are latest news from Australia and worldwide,
research and resources.
NEWS
AUSTRALIA
Health
leaders seek nicotine replacement action from Australian governments
November 2011: ASH Australia and the Public Health Association of
Australia have written to Federal and State/Territory health ministers
asking them to take action to improve prisoners' access to Nicotine
Replacement Therapy. ASH
Australia Australia:
report from national summit on tobacco smoking in prisons
2011: Prison and health
professionals and prisoner advocates met at the ANU, Canberra, to discuss smoking in prisons. This 2011 report
from the National Drug Research Institute and the Public Health
Association of Australia outlines discussions and recommends best practices. All
Australian jurisdictions except NSW either have, or have committed to
introducing, smokefree prison policies covering at least indoor areas. See p. 18-42
of above report for overview and details Health
Ministers highlight need for smokefree policies
2010: Meeting of Australia's Health Ministers (responding to a report of
the National Preventive Health Agency) said: The Government is
concerned about the high rates of smoking among people in prison. Some
78 per cent of male prisoners and 83 per cent of female prisoners smoke.
Prisoners will be a key target group in the Government’s $27.8 million
anti-smoking social marketing campaign targeting high-risk and high-need
groups. In addition, the Commonwealth Government has provided $150,000
to support a national summit
on tobacco smoking in prisons in July 2010 which will provide
recommendations to governments on ways of reducing smoking prevalence in
prisons. Implementation of smoke-free policies and provision of
cessation supports in correctional facilities and other human services
agencies are a state and territory Government responsibility. The
Government will raise this issue with state and territory Governments at
the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference. National
Preventative Health Taskforce recommends smokefree corrective facilities
2009: The National Preventative Health Taskforce in its 2009
roadmap report on preventive health recommended that the government
should “Ensure all state-funded human services agencies and
correctional facilities (adult and juvenile) are smoke-free and provide
appropriate cessation supports." INTERNATIONAL Drop
in prison fires after NZ prisons go smokefree
August 2011: Arsons and
accidental fires have decreased in New Zealand prisons since they were
made smokefree by law on June 1, 2011. NZ
Herald 17/8/11 Russia
to introduce non-smoking prison cells
April 2011: Russia is introducing some no-smoking cells into its prisons
to give prisoners a choice of smokefree accommodation. RT
news 14/4/11
Smokefree prisons: world
roundup from
Cancer Council NSW, as at November 2011
In
the USA, all Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities are 100%
smokefree in indoor areas. Some states have banned both indoor and
outdoor smoking in prisons: California (tobacco products banned from all prison facilities), Arkansas, Kentucky, Nebraska.
24 other states have prohibited smoking in all indoor areas of prisons.
The
Correctional Service of Canada banned smoking in all areas
(indoor and outdoor) of Federal prisons at the end of April 2008. The
ban has survived legal challenge.
In England all areas of prison facilities (apart from cells
occupied solely by smokers and that meet “designated room criteria”)
are required by the Health Act 2006 to be smoke-free.
All New Zealand prisons have been smokefree (indoor and outdoor)
from 1 July 2011.
RESEARCH
See latest Health
evidence of secondhand smoke health harm in workplaces
MENTAL HEALTH
Smoking doesn't calm nerves;
mental health clients want to quit just as much as others; more.
See Latest
research on smoking and mental health
Smoking is a serious
contributor to problems faced by people with mental illness. Evidence
shows it harms health, shortens life, worsens hardship, increases
depression, and DOESN'T
relieve stress. People working or being treated in mental health
settings have a right to be protected from secondhand smoke.
2008 NSW
report Smoke
and Mirrors busts some popular myths;
"Guidance for
implementing smoke free mental health facilities" - NSW
Health
Informative
myth-busting article on "Breaking the Link" between smoking
and mental health in New
England Journal of Medicine, July 2011
Some
latest
studies:
-
Male
smokers lose brain function faster with ageing
February 2012: Middle-aged men who smoke
lose cognitive function fast than non-smokers, says a ten-year study of
over 5,000 British men. A 50-year-old male smoker shows similar
cognitive decline to a 60-year-old male never-smoker. Abstract
Reuters/Yahoo
7/2/12
-
Current
heavy smoking increases major depression risk
January
2012: Persistent heavy smoking is a
risk factor for major depression, current heavy smokers at four times
greater risk than former heavy smokers, says a 12-year study from
Canada. Authors point
to benefits of cessation maintenance.
Abstract
-
Smoking
addiction increases depression risk - but this is
"neglected"
2010:
NZ study of over 1000 shows results "consistent with... cause
and effect relationship... in which cigarette smoking increases the
risk of symptoms of depression." Abstract But
tobacco addiction "neglected" in Australian mental health
settings - 2010 study abstract
-
Tobacco tax hikes can
slash smoking in high risk groups
2010: Tobacco tax rises can
slash smoking rates among people struggling with drug, binge
drinking or mental health problems. Study of over 7,500 finds these
groups over 18% more likely to quit if prices rise.
Report
6/6/10 Abstract
-
Quit
interventions equally effective in mentally ill
2010: Comparison of
cessation in people with severe mental illness vs general population
shows quit interventions just as effective in both. And
"Treating tobacco dependence in patients with stable
psychiatric conditions does not worsen mental state."
Abstract
PRISONS / CUSTODIAL SETTINGS
NSW
prisoners want smokefree policies
2009: NSW
Inmate Health Survey reported:
- 32%
surveyed said they had experienced adverse effects from secondhand
smoke exposure;
- 55%
said they currently shared a cell with a smoker;
- 72%
felt smoking should be prohibited in enclosed public areas of prison
facilities;
- 93%
believed that non-smokers should not be forced to share a cell with
a smoker.
Indig
D et al (2010), 2009 NSW Inmate Health Survey: Key Findings. Justice Health Statewide Service, NSW Health.
Should
smoking be banned in prisons?
2007: Discussion or arguments and overview of research evidence by
Australian experts. Points out important distinctions between custodial
and general social settings. Study
abstract and full pdf Many
prisoners smoke but strong wish to quit
2006: Survey of over 900 NSW prisoners finds "extraordinarily
high" (79%) smoking rate, but "many prisoners intend to quit
and custodial authorities need to encourage and support
[quitting]". Abstract
RESOURCES Australia:
report from national summit on tobacco smoking in prisons
2011: Prison and health
professionals and prisoner advocates met at the ANU, Canberra, to discuss smoking in prisons. This 2011 report
from the National Drug Research Institute and the Public Health
Association of Australia outlines discussions and recommends best practices
including:
nationally-coordinated standards; moving towards all indoor areas
smokefree; better research; cessation support; indigenous liaison; a
national working group; more. Global
report on reducing tobacco smoke exposure in prisons
One
in a series of background papers on challenging global issues in
smokefree air policy that are not fully addressed by the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) or its guidelines. This document
addresses the special challenges presented when attempting to protect
people from secondhand smoke exposure in confined spaces such as
prisons.
Background
paper
Australia:
National Preventative Health Taskforce recommendation
National Preventative Health Taskforce in its 2009
roadmap report on preventive health recommended that the
government should “Ensure all state-funded human services agencies and
correctional facilities (adult and juvenile) are smoke-free and provide
appropriate cessation supports."
Tobacco
in Australia: Facts and Issues
Comprehensive 2008 tobacco control resource includes Chapter
7 - cessation -interventions for special groups
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to smokefree
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