1. Prescribing in prison: minimizing psychotropic drug diversion in correctional practice.
- Author
-
Pilkinton PD and Pilkinton JC
- Subjects
- Adult, Delivery of Health Care economics, Delivery of Health Care methods, Humans, Male, Medication Adherence statistics & numerical data, Mental Disorders economics, Mental Disorders epidemiology, Prisons economics, Prisons standards, Psychotropic Drugs economics, Psychotropic Drugs standards, Substance Abuse Detection methods, United States epidemiology, Delivery of Health Care standards, Mental Disorders drug therapy, Prescription Drug Diversion, Prisons organization & administration, Psychotropic Drugs supply & distribution
- Abstract
Correctional facilities are a major provider of mental health care throughout the United States. In spite of the numerous benefits of providing care in this setting, clinicians are sometimes concerned about entering into correctional care because of uncertainty in prescribing practices. This article provides an introduction to prescription drug use, abuse, and diversion in the correctional setting, including systems issues in prescribing, commonly abused prescription medications, motivation for and detection of prescription drug abuse, and the use of laboratory monitoring. By understanding the personal and systemic factors that affect prescribing habits, the clinician can develop a more rewarding correctional practice and improve care for inmates with mental illness.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF