Research Institute of Health Sciences Reports Findings in Drug Research (Extent and patterns of drug use in prison in Burkina Faso: findings from a cross-sectional study in central prison of Ouagadougou).

A recent study conducted in the central prison of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, examined the extent and patterns of drug use among inmates. The study found that approximately one-third of the prisoners had experienced illicit drug use in their lifetime, with nearly one-third of them being drug users before incarceration. About 11.87% of the prisoners used drugs inside the prison, with 33.33% of them initiating drug use while incarcerated. Cannabis was the most commonly used drug, followed by tramadol, diazepam, and cocaine. Factors associated with drug use in prison included prior drug use and the young age of inmates. The study suggests the need for effective drug use prevention and care programs in prisons, including medical and psychological care, education activities, and training for successful social reintegration. The research indicates that the current repressive strategy against drug use in prisons is ineffective. [Extracted from the article]