TTURC researchers are investigating whether smokers who are forced to quit while serving time in Wisconsin’s smoke-free prisons actually remain non-smokers after their release into the community.
Fifty male prisoners who have served time at Oakhill Correctional Facility, a minimum security prison, are being interviewed before and after their release. Researchers will investigate smoking intention, relapse and predictors.
Laura Thibodeau, RN, coordinator and interviewer for the study, said so far 60 percent of participants have returned to smoking after their release. Thibodeau said she’s not surprised by these preliminary results.
“Seventy-five to 80 percent of inmates smoke going into prison,” she said. Thibodeau speculates the relapse they are seeing post-release may be triggered by the stress of re-acclimating to the community and life outside prison. Still, 40 percent of prisoners forced to quit in prison are remaining smoke-free after their release.
The team’s research, funded by a TTURC pilot grant, is being conducted by primary investigator Dr. James Sosman, associate professor of medicine, as well as co-investigator Doug Jorenby, Thibodeau and consultant David Seal. |
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Researchers are finding that, even when the cuffs come off, 40 percent of state ex-cons don’t pick up cigarettes again.
Dr. James Sosman,
Prinicipal Investigator
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