scholarly journals Prison sentencing increases the risk of unemployment among illegal heroin users in Taiwan

Author(s):  
Charles Tzu-Chi Lee ◽  
Chiu-Mieh Huang ◽  
Li-Chun Chang ◽  
Shih-Wen Wang ◽  
Hsiao-Pei Hsu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Previous studies have rarely explored the effect of type of sentencing on employment status among illegal heroin users, therefore, we aims to examine the association of the sentencing types and employment outcomes among illegal heroin users in Taiwan. Methods Participants with illegal heroin use were identified through the national prison register system and deferred prosecution system: 2406 with deferred prosecutions, 4741 with observation and rehabilitation, 15 compulsory rehabilitation and 1958 sentenced to prison in calendar 2011. Logistic regression models were built to estimate the effect of sentencing type on unemployment status at 2 years after release. Stratification analysis was conducted to determine the effect of sentencing type based on the offender’s employment status before sentencing. Results Illegal heroin users receiving a prison sentence were more than twice as likely to be unemployed 2 years later than those receiving deferred prosecution. The unemployment rate was also higher for those with observation and rehabilitation and compulsory rehabilitation than deferred prosecution in the 2 years following sentencing. Males, older users, without a job before sentencing, divorced or widowed and higher prior drug use criminal records were also higher risk of unemployment. Subgroup analysis by prior employment status revealed that being sentenced to prison, observation and rehabilitation and compulsory rehabilitation affected the subsequent employment status only for those heroin users with a job before sentencing. The strength of associations showed dose-dependent relationship between different sentencing types (sentenced to prison> compulsory rehabilitation> observation and rehabilitation) and employment outcomes. Conclusions Illegal heroin users who receive a prison sentence have a much higher risk of unemployment than those who receive deferred prosecution after controlling potential confounders, especially those who had a job before sentencing. The implication is the stronger freedom of punishment, the higher risk of unemployment outcomes. Our study support that illegal heroin user is legally regarded as a patient before being regarded as a criminal, so giving priority to quit addition rather than imprisonment.

1987 ◽  
Vol 60 (3_part_2) ◽  
pp. 1099-1105
Author(s):  
Carlo Cipolli ◽  
Ivan Galliani

Rorschach test scores for male heroin users and nonusers ( ns = 15 each) were compared, to ascertain whether use of heroin influences intellectual impairment (as measured by such indicators of intellectual functioning as F+% and W+% responses). While the results show intellectual impairment to be greater in heroin users than in nonusers, the parametric and nonparametric indicators do not consistently show more marked impairment in long-term (4 to 5 yr. of addiction) than in short-term users (1 to 2 yr.). While intellectual functioning clearly seems influenced by heroin use, further research is required to ascertain the effect of the length of use either by comparing test and retest scores over a substantial interval or by matching samples including subjects with even longer careers of addiction.


Author(s):  
Christine C. Ekenga ◽  
Eunsun Kwon ◽  
BoRin Kim ◽  
Sojung Park

Advances in early detection and treatment have led to a growing population of female cancer survivors, many of whom are of working age. We examined the relationship between cancer and long-term (>5 years) employment outcomes in a nationally representative sample of working-age women in the United States. Data from nine waves of the Health and Retirement Study were used to examine employment status and weekly hours worked among cancer survivors (n = 483) and women without cancer (n = 6605). We used random slope regression models to estimate the impact of cancer and occupation type on employment outcomes. There was no difference in employment status between cancer survivors and women without cancer at baseline; however, during follow-up, cancer survivors were more likely to be employed than women without cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–1.58). Among 6–10-year survivors, professional workers were less likely (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21–0.74) to be employed than manual workers. Among >10-year survivors, professional workers averaged fewer weekly hours worked (−2.4 h, 95% CI: −4.4–−0.47) than manual workers. The impact of cancer on long-term employment outcomes may differ by occupation type. Identifying the occupation-specific mechanisms associated with the return to work will be critical to developing targeted strategies to promote employment in the growing female cancer survivor population.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 123-123
Author(s):  
S. Vucetic-Arsic ◽  
M. Stankovic ◽  
S. Alcaz ◽  
M. Nikic

ObjectiveDuring the last two decades illicit drug use in Belgrade has been changed.Previously, one of the most common methods of illicit heroin use was via intravenous injection. In 1987, injecting drug, as main consumption patterns was accepted by 90,6% of patients, although intravenous administration fell to 75,5% in 1995.The aim of the study was to observe if the main pattern of heroin consumption had changed lately.MethodsThe study included 382 illicit drug users (mean age 28,8 ± 4,7; both gender) treated in Special Hospital for Addiction, Belgrade in period of a year (Sept. 2009–2010).We used data from Pompidou questionnaire and calculated prevalence through standard survey technique.ResultsA total of 94,5% respondents reported a lifetime prevalence of heroin as a main drug, 1,1% of other opiates, 0,3% of cocaine and amphetamine. More than 92,7% of respondents used heroin in the last month regularly. The lifetime prevalence consumption mode for intranasal use was 44,3%, injecting 39,8% and smoking/ inhaling 13,9%.First injectable route experience is reported for age 17–19 = 11.9%; for 20–22 = 25.6%; for 23–26 = 30-3%. The total number of 79,8% reported negative HIV testing result, 0,5% positive result.ConclusionThe consumption model changed in last 10 years and our study confirmed significant diversity. Intranasal administration linked with young population of heroin addicts, who never or rarely use injectable route with low level of HIV infection. Older addicts prefer intravenous use and often change to intranasal route later, for safety or damaged process of peripheral blood vessel.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Ribeiro ◽  
Rosana Frajzinger ◽  
Luciane Ogata Perrenoud ◽  
Benedikt Fischer

Purpose Brazil’s street-based drug use is mostly characterized by non-injection psychostimulant (e.g. crack-cocaine) drug use in Brazil, with limited interventions and service availability. Recently, an influx of multi-ethnic migrants within an urban drug scene in Sao Paulo was associated with heroin use, a drug normatively absent from Brazil. The purpose of this paper is to characterize and compare heroin use-related characteristics and outcomes for an attending sub-sample of clients from a large community-based treatment centre (“CRATOD”) serving Sao Paulo’s local urban drug scene. Design/methodology/approach All non-Brazilian patients (n = 109) receiving services at CRATOD for 2013–2016 were identified from patient files, divided into heroin users (n = 40) and non-heroin users (n = 69). Based on chart reviews, select socio-demographic, drug use and health status (including blood-borne-virus and other infections per rapid test methods) were examined and bi-variately compared. Multi-variate analyses examined factors independently associated with heroin use. Findings Most participants were male and middle-aged, poly-drug users and socio-economically marginalized. While heroin users primarily originated from Africa, they reported significantly more criminal histories, drug (e.g. injection) and sex-risk behaviors and elevated rates of BBV (e.g. Hepatitis C Virus and HIV). A minority of heroin users attending the clinic was provided methadone treatment, mostly for detoxification. Originality/value This study documented information on a distinct sample of mostly migration-based heroin users in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Based on the local experience, global migration dynamics can bring changes to established drug use cultures and services, including new challenges for drug use-related related behaviors and therapeutic interventions that require effective understanding and addressing.


Author(s):  
Gareth White ◽  
Susan E. Luczak ◽  
Bernard Mundia ◽  
Smita Goorah

The decreasing age of young people injecting illicit drugs is an under-reported challenge for the prevention of HIV transmission worldwide. Young people aged 15–24 years represent 1 in 5 persons living with HIV in Mauritius where the epidemic is driven by injecting drug use and risky sexual behaviours. We recruited 22 heroin users aged 18–24 and 5 service providers working in harm reduction (HR) for the present study. Qualitative data were collected through unstructured interviews. We adopted an economic framework and an inductive approach to the analysis, which implied revising codes and themes. The risks heroin users described as consumers of illicit drugs and as clients of HR services could not be analyzed in isolation. Polydrug use emerged as a recurrent coping mechanism resulting from the changing dynamics within the heroin market. The risks faced by women went beyond addiction and infection with HIV. How participants viewed the risks and benefits linked to using heroin was greatly influenced by gaps in knowledge that left room for uncertainty and reinforcing mechanisms such as peer influence. The study shows that qualitative research can produce in-depth socio-behavioural insights required to produce more effective services for young people.


2019 ◽  
pp. 088626051988852
Author(s):  
Louise Almond ◽  
Elias Matin ◽  
Michelle McManus

Offender profiling follows the idea that if offenders’ crime scene actions can be empirically linked to their background characteristics, it will be possible to predict one from the other. There is a lack of research exploring whether homicide offenders’ crime scene actions are predictive of their criminal histories, despite the potential utility of such information. The current study addresses this gap in the literature. A sample of 213 adult male-on-female homicides with sexual or unknown motive was drawn from a U.K.-wide database. Relationships between 13 preconviction variables and 29 crime scene behaviors were explored using a bivariate statistical approach. Subsequently, binary logistic regression models were used to predict the presence, or absence, of specific preconvictions based on a combination of offense behaviors. Analyses highlighted 16 statistically significant associations between key offense behaviors and previous convictions, these associations were often “less likely” to result in previous conviction. The analysis failed to find any association for various other variables, most notably sexual preconvictions. Results indicate offenders’ criminal histories can be predicted from their offense behaviors, though not all preconvictions may be similarly suited. Implications for practice are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-30
Author(s):  
Mercedes A. Zapata

Introduction: In this study, the author examined the association between general self-efficacy (GSE) and employment status in working-age adults with retinitis pigmentosa (RP; N = 183). The author further examined the associations between employment status and factors that were previously found to be linked to employment outcomes in individuals with visual impairments: educational attainment, mobility tool use (i.e., use of dog guide or cane), ability to drive, age, gender, and age at onset of visual impairment. Methods: Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze cross-sectional data collected online in 2015. Results: Findings indicated that individuals with RP who have a bachelor’s degree or higher had significantly higher odds of being employed ( p < .01) and that individuals with RP who use a cane or dog guide had significantly lower odds of being employed ( p < .01). Although not statistically significant, findings further indicated that individuals with RP who have higher GSE had higher odds of being employed ( p = .07) and that individuals who are able to drive had 130% higher odds of being employed ( p = .06). Discussion: Results demonstrated an association between GSE and employment status, after controlling for factors that were previously linked to employment outcomes in individuals with visual impairment. Implications for practitioners: Self-efficacy is an alterable cognitive construct and may be the target of interventions to increase employment outcomes for adults with RP or other eye conditions.


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