title: The impact of implementing smoking bans among incarcerated substance users: a qualitative study.
abstract: This article reports a study evaluating the effects of implementing smoking bans among drug-using prisoners in Taiwan. Seventy-seven new entrants were recruited in May 2008. Six focus groups were conducted in a prison-based treatment center, the only prison with a total smoking ban in Taiwan. All the subjects were male and their average age was 37 years. Three general reactions to the ban were identified across all focus groups: (a) unfair/hypocritical policy; (b) being forced to stop smoking; and (c) finding ways to smoke anyway. Future studies should compare the effects of total versus partial smoking bans among drug abusers in prison to better explore policy options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chih-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011330:Prisons / Q000592:standards; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013624:Taiwan; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution