title: Prison, a missing target to address issues related to drug detoxification and rehabilitation: Nepalese experiences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Drug use has numerous consequences on health, the economy, culture and the peace and security of families and communities. Drug users often engage in various criminal activities, including drug dealing, to sustain their drug use. Under Nepalese law, consumption, possession and sale of drugs are illegal, which increases the risk of incarceration for drug users.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a phenomenological/qualitative approach, the paper explores how various activities can lead to the arrest of drug users, how they cope without taking drugs in custody and prison and how they plan abstinence after release.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants engaged in various categories of criminal activity, including stealing, looting, etc. Most of the drug users were in custody and prison at least once. Drug use relapses led the participants to re-engage in criminal activities including drug dealing. Parents were often overburdened by their sons and daughter's drug use and were worried about their repeated relapses. Finally, some parents negotiated with their sons and daughters to keep them in prison where they would be able to stay without taking drugs and their involvement in crimes and conflicts would decrease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Keeping substance abusers in prison does not appear to be an effective strategy, as many participants relapse after release from prison. However, a prison-based educational and health promotion strategy would be beneficial for drug users to develop knowledge and skills on staying drug-free. However, to date, no effort has been made to provide such services to drug users and develop their coping strategy after release.
authors.affiliation: based at Centre for Cultural Diversity and Wellbeing, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Chandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kant Jha
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: M Donovan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons; D012008:Recurrence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Crime; Drug use; Incarceration; Nepal; Prison; Relapse