Jailhouse rock: Health status, patterns of use, and subjective benefits of cannabis use in a sample of inmates in Spanish prisons

OBJECTIVES: To assess the perceived health and quality of life, perceived social support, prison life, and cannabis use among a sample of inmates in Spanish prisons. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We hosted a discussion with inmates in order to learn their reasons for using cannabis (phase 1). Then, a questionnaire was prepared specifically for this study (phase 2), containing indicators from the Catalan Health Survey and other items regarding patterns of cannabis use and life in prison. The questionnaire was administered by the authors to a sample of Catalan inmates. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A sample of 63 inmates completed the questionnaire. Cannabis was used mainly for therapeutic purposes, which can be interpreted as a coping strategy related to the stress associated with prison life. Nearly half of the subjects used cannabis as a substitute for prescription medications and illicit drugs. It was found that the only variable that predicted self-perceived health status was the number of visits inmates received. This suggests that social support is a key factor for improving the health and well-being of inmates. Cannabis use in prison seems to be related to coping with a challenging context. The benefits and risks of this practice need to be further researched.