Jesús Redondo Pacheco

Consumo de sustancias psicoactivas antes y después del ingreso a prisión en catorce centros carcelarios de Colombia

Objective: to describe the frequency of psychoactive substances and substances used before and after being admitted to prison, inmates in 14 prisons and detention facilities assigned to the Regional East Directorate of the Colombian National Institute Penitentiary and Prisons (INPEC). Methods: The study sample was made up of 323 inmates (men n = 303, women n = 20) who were administered the questionnaire “Epidemiological Monitoring of Use and Substance Abuse” (VESPA). Results: there is a statistically significant reduction of use, per drug, after being admitted to prison; quitting barbiturates and heroin consumption in its entirety. Conclusions: The use of illicit substances follows the global and national trend; which should concern the competent institutions, since the effects of the use and abuse of psychoactive substances constitute a risk factor preventing the re-socializing objective of deprivation of liberty.