Justice Health Quit Smoking Project
A reduction of tobacco usage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody in New South Wales Prisons.
Promotion of the project is through Chronic Care staff in Prison Health Centres. Patients have a health screening and are offered Nicotine replacement therapy and counselling support to stop smoking.
Started in 2009 for one Year with a submission for an extension.
The responsibility of the program is given to the participant. There is no shame attached to smoking relapse and readmission to the program is encouraged. Reasons for relapse are examined and discussed with the participant to try to develop strategies to prevent future relapse. They helped by making the patient responsible for their success or relapse.
Access to staff is often restricted due to rosters and prison routine. Patients are often transferred to other prisons and the program is disrupted. The NRT has to be prescribed by a doctor at this stage and slows the process as access to doctors is often limited.
The program is relatively successful and well received, information about the health implications of smoking are readily available and the flexibility of our program makes it easy to access. Most participants are at the stage where they want to stop smoking.
Evaluating the program is difficult due to the transient nature of participants, it is difficult to follow up once they have been released from gaol. The patients are regularly followed up by the Chronic Care staff in the clinics. Currently there are 95 participants in 15 gaols spread all over NS.W. The supervising staff and myself have regular teleconferences and problems and solutions are discussed. The process must be fluid and adapt and evolve.
A guideline for a culturally appropriate program has been developed for the staff to follow. Resources have been sourced from the Department of Health.
Michael Griffiths, Renal and Health Promotions Coordinator
Cessnock Correctional Centre, off Lindsay St, Cessnock NSW 2325
Phone: 02 49 932330
Email: Michael.Griffiths@justicehealth.nsw.gov.au
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