Psychoactive Medication Misadventuring in Correctional Health Care. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McKee, Jerry; Penn, Joseph V.; Koranek, Angela
• Is Part Of: Journal of correctional health care. Volume 20:Number 3(2014)
• Page Start: 249
• Page End: 260
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: psychoactive medications -- drug abuse -- mental illness -- inmates -- prisons; Prisoners -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; Prisoners -- Medical care -- United States -- Periodicals; 365.667
• DOI: 10.1177/1078345814532419
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-3458

Abstract

Due to multiple factors, unprecedented numbers of individuals with mental health disorders and many with comorbid substance use disorders are now incarcerated in jails and prisons. This article details a variety of medication use and potential abuse/misuse/misadventuring topics that are unique to the correctional health care setting, with emphasis on how the large number of persons with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders affects these issues and methods that correctional systems commonly use to manage these inmate-patients. Also discussed are the potential for inmate feigning or malingering as a goal-directed behavior, potential for misadventuring/abuse of commonly used medications, urine drug screening/surveillance, and the effect of psychoactive medications on heat tolerance and environmental issues.