2025
Facilitators and barriers to scaling up methadone maintenance therapy in Malaysian prisons: using nominal group technique with custodial staff
Mobley A, Shenoi S, Ahmad A, Ravie N, Bromberg D, Madden L, Long J, Pang J, Kamarulzaman A, Altice F. Facilitators and barriers to scaling up methadone maintenance therapy in Malaysian prisons: using nominal group technique with custodial staff. International Journal Of Prison Health 2025 PMID: 40787851, DOI: 10.1108/ijoph-11-2024-0064.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCustodial staffCustody officersMethadone maintenance treatmentMalaysia’s largest prison.Opioid use disorderMixed-methods strategyVital perspectiveLargest prisonPrison settingMalaysian prisonsPrisonTop-ranked barriersMiddle-income countriesHealth-care programsEase-of-accessTreatment of opioid use disorderMethadone maintenance treatment programsMonths employmentNominal group techniqueMethadone maintenance therapyOfficeMMT programDecision-makingStaffUse disorderCharacterisation of a syndemic of STI symptoms, substance use and violence among incarcerated Peruvian women
Cyrus E, Turpin R, Dyer T, Hashemi E, Ali S, Bazo A, Morgan-Lopez A, Scheidell J, Leon S, Sciaudone M, Altice F. Characterisation of a syndemic of STI symptoms, substance use and violence among incarcerated Peruvian women. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2025, sextrans-2024-056371. PMID: 40081910, DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2024-056371.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSexually transmitted infection symptomsSexually transmitted infectionsIncarcerated womenSubstance usePopulation of incarcerated womenRisk of violenceSTI symptomsLatent profile analysisIncarceration ratesHigh school degreeSubstance misusePrisonSyndemic theoryViolenceYears of ageCross-sectional studyDeleterious health outcomesMedian ageSchool degreeSexual behaviorAt-risk populationsHealth outcomesGlobal trendsPeruvian womenEpidemiological data
2024
Improving implementation of needle and syringe programmes to expand, scale up, and sustain evidence-based prevention interventions for HIV and hepatitis C in prisons
Kronfli N, Bromberg D, Wolff H, Montanari L, Vasyliev S, Altice F. Improving implementation of needle and syringe programmes to expand, scale up, and sustain evidence-based prevention interventions for HIV and hepatitis C in prisons. The Lancet Public Health 2024, 10: e63-e70. PMID: 39701113, PMCID: PMC11823114, DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(24)00275-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth-care equityPrison-based needleHuman rights principlesStandard of health careUN General AssemblySyringe programmesEvidence-based interventionsHCV elimination goalsCarceral settingsRights principlesLegal statusMember statesGeneral AssemblyPrisonEvidence-based preventive interventionsYears of commitmentImplementation science methodsPNSPHCV prevention strategiesImplementation of needleImprove implementationDrug useCountry-level stakeholdersPolitical commitmentMultilevel stakeholdersCharacterizing a syndemic: STI symptoms, substance use & violence among incarcerated Peruvian women
Hashemi E, Cyrus E, Turpin R, Bazo A, Morgan-Lopez A, Scheidell J, Leon S, Altice F, Sciaudone M, Dyer T. Characterizing a syndemic: STI symptoms, substance use & violence among incarcerated Peruvian women. European Journal Of Public Health 2024, 34: ckae144.1502. PMCID: PMC11517018, DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckae144.1502.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIncarcerated womenSubstance useInterpersonal violenceSexually transmitted infection symptomsIncreased rates of incarcerationSexually transmitted infectionsExperiences of interpersonal violenceRates of incarcerationSTI symptomsLatent profile analysisViolenceLatent classesAt-risk populationsIncarcerationPrisonPeruvian womenEpidemiological dataSexual behaviorSymptomsLogistic regressionWomenBivariate analysisLatent profile analysis modelSubstancesIncreased rateInterventions to reduce harms related to drug use among people who experience incarceration: systematic review and meta-analysis
Macdonald C, Macpherson G, Leppan O, Tran L, Cunningham E, Hajarizadeh B, Grebely J, Farrell M, Altice F, Degenhardt L. Interventions to reduce harms related to drug use among people who experience incarceration: systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health 2024, 9: e684-e699. PMID: 39214637, PMCID: PMC11996259, DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(24)00160-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentDrug useRisk behaviorsReducing re-arrestsTherapeutic community interventionsEffectiveness of interventionsRecidivism outcomesReduce injection risk behaviorExperience incarcerationRe-arrestIncarcerationService provisionRecidivismPrisonSystematic reviewCommunity interventionsSubstance useSelf-harmInjection risk behaviorsRandom-effects meta-analysesMeta-analysisAlcohol useSyringe sharingPooled odds ratioRisk of deathUsing nominal group technique with people who are incarcerated in Canadian federal prisons to identify barriers and solutions to improving Prison Needle Exchange Program uptake
Lafferty L, Altice F, Leone F, Stoové M, Lloyd A, Hajarizadeh B, Kronfli N. Using nominal group technique with people who are incarcerated in Canadian federal prisons to identify barriers and solutions to improving Prison Needle Exchange Program uptake. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2024, 131: 104549. PMID: 39141957, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104549.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCanadian federal prisonsFederal prisonsPeer advocatesProgram participantsWrap-around servicesCorrectional authoritiesPrisonParticipant confidentialityFear of repercussionsHarm reductionLack of confidentialityPerceived repercussionsPriority barriersNeedle exchange programsParticipants' narrativesDrug useAdvocatesVotingAccess barriersIdentity processesImprove accessFocus groupsNominal group techniqueConfidentialityInterview transcriptsUsing nominal group technique to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to improving uptake of the Prison Needle Exchange Program in Canadian federal prisons by correctional officers and healthcare workers
Kronfli N, Lafferty L, Leone F, Stoové M, Hajarizadeh B, Lloyd A, Altice F. Using nominal group technique to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to improving uptake of the Prison Needle Exchange Program in Canadian federal prisons by correctional officers and healthcare workers. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2024, 130: 104540. PMID: 39079352, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104540.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCorrectional officersCanadian federal prisonsFederal prisonsFear of beingNeedle exchange programsWrap-around servicesComplex application processCorrectional employeesFocus groupsPrisonNominal group techniquePerceived BarriersAutomatic approvalFear of repercussionsHealthcare workersLack of confidentialityExchange programsSyringe programsOfficeDrug useCoverage of evidence-based interventionsCanadian effortsBloodborne virusesEvidence-based interventionsGroup technique
2023
Introducing methadone maintenance therapy into Ukrainian prisons: a qualitative study of criminal subculture, Russia’s full-scale invasion, and contested methadone objects
Ponticiello M, Azbel L, Tate M, Bromberg D, Pykalo I, Kiriazova T, Saichuk N, Altice F. Introducing methadone maintenance therapy into Ukrainian prisons: a qualitative study of criminal subculture, Russia’s full-scale invasion, and contested methadone objects. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2023, 14: 1227216. PMID: 38098632, PMCID: PMC10720714, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1227216.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPeople deprived of libertyNon-conflict regionsCriminal subcultureUkrainian prisonersPrison staffPrison authoritiesRussia’s full-scale invasionInvasion of UkraineFull-scale invasionIn-depth qualitative interviewsDrug usePrison subcultureRussia invaded UkrainePrison environmentFull-scale invasion of UkraineSocial tiesPrisonConflict zonesEastern EuropeMethadone uptakeQualitative interviewsSocial hierarchyOpioid agonist therapySocio-environmental factorsPrevent transmission of HIV
2022
How methadone becomes an intoxicant
Azbel L, Altice F. How methadone becomes an intoxicant. 2022, 203-220. DOI: 10.4324/9780429058141-17.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchKyrgyz prisonsIntervention translationKyrgyz RepublicActor-network theoryEntire social groupsPractice of implementationGlobal evidence baseEvidence-based treatmentsParticipants' accountsAlternative enactmentsQualitative interviewsEvidence-based approachGlobal health communitySocial groupsOpioid useMaterial manifestationsPrisonHealth AccountsMethadone maintenance treatmentDistinct waysLocal networkMoral characterRepublicIntervention workPracticeInterest without uptake: A mixed-methods analysis of methadone utilization in Kyrgyz prisons
Liberman AR, Bromberg DJ, Litz T, Kurmanalieva A, Galvez S, Rozanova J, Azbel L, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Interest without uptake: A mixed-methods analysis of methadone utilization in Kyrgyz prisons. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0276723. PMID: 36282864, PMCID: PMC9595522, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276723.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKyrgyz prisonsCriminal justice systemDepth qualitative interviewsMethadone utilizationMethadone treatmentMixed-method analysisBrief interventionJustice systemPrison systemCriminal subcultureQualitative interviewsEastern EuropeEvidence-based HIV prevention strategiesCentral AsiaKyrgyz RepublicQualitative findingsPrison releaseHIV prevention strategiesPrisonInjection drug useMedication-Assisted TherapyMethadone uptakeInterpersonal relationshipsAttitudesHealth-related concerns
2021
Addiction Treatment as Prison Governance: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Methadone Delivery in Kyrgyz Prisons
Azbel L, Bromberg D, Dvoryak S, Altice F. Addiction Treatment as Prison Governance: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Methadone Delivery in Kyrgyz Prisons. Contemporary Drug Problems 2021, 49: 106-120. DOI: 10.1177/00914509211060723.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchKyrgyz prisonsInformal governancePolicy textsEastern EuropeCentral AsiaCritical discourse analysisPost-structural approachesGlobal health policymakersPrison governanceNational legislative documentsPolicy discoursePrisoner subcultureKyrgyz caseSocial practicesPrison administrationFormal governancePolicy analysisDiscourse analysisSocial structureGovernment programsGovernanceLegislative documentsLegislative basisUnexamined assumptionsPrisonMulti-level implementation factors that influence scale-up of methadone maintenance treatment in Moldovan prisons: A qualitative study
O'Hara GL, Liberman AR, Polonsky M, Azbel L, Marcus R, Doltu S, Cugut S, Altice FL. Multi-level implementation factors that influence scale-up of methadone maintenance treatment in Moldovan prisons: A qualitative study. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2021, 136: 108660. PMID: 34801282, PMCID: PMC10879837, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108660.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentCentral Asian regionNegative personal attitudesPrison hierarchySocial forcesInformal hierarchyMaintenance treatmentThematic barriersQualitative interviewsPrison populationInterview dataAsian regionPrisonPrison settingQualitative studyQuantitative surveyKey barriersNew HIV infectionsOpioid use disorderContent analysisComplete interview dataQualitative analysisDistrustPersonal attitudesPrisonersDecisional considerations for methadone uptake in Kyrgyz prisons: The importance of understanding context and providing accurate information
Liberman AR, Bromberg DJ, Azbel L, Rozanova J, Madden L, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Decisional considerations for methadone uptake in Kyrgyz prisons: The importance of understanding context and providing accurate information. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2021, 94: 103209. PMID: 33838398, PMCID: PMC8373625, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103209.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKyrgyz prisonsInformal governance systemSecondary thematic analysisMethadone uptakePrison governanceGovernance systemPrison economyPrison administrationQualitative interviewsInterrelated themesSocial risksPrison contextEastern EuropePrisonCentral AsiaKyrgyz RepublicUnderstanding contextThematic analysisDecisional considerationsContent analysisMethadone treatmentRespondents' perceptionsHIV preventionMethadone utilizationInterviews
2018
Creating, reinforcing, and resisting the gender binary: a qualitative study of transgender women’s healthcare experiences in sex-segregated jails and prisons
Hughto J, Clark KA, Altice FL, Reisner SL, Kershaw TS, Pachankis JE. Creating, reinforcing, and resisting the gender binary: a qualitative study of transgender women’s healthcare experiences in sex-segregated jails and prisons. International Journal Of Prison Health 2018, 14: 69-88. PMID: 29869582, PMCID: PMC5992494, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-02-2017-0011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGender binaryTransgender womenHealthcare experiencesWomen's healthcare experiencesResearch limitations/implications FindingsCorrectional healthcare providersProviders' limited knowledgeDesign/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviewsWomen ActFirst-hand accountsWomen's accessMethodology/approachOriginality/valueInstitutional cultureMulti-level barriersStructural stigmaFeminine identityInstitutional policiesFindings ParticipantsImplications FindingsQualitative studyHealthcare barriersInsufficient accessPrison
2016
Trials and tribulations of conducting bio-behavioral surveys in prisons: implementation science and lessons from Ukraine
Azbel L, Grishaev Y, Wickersham JA, Chernova O, Dvoryak S, Polonsky M, Altice FL. Trials and tribulations of conducting bio-behavioral surveys in prisons: implementation science and lessons from Ukraine. International Journal Of Prison Health 2016, 12: 78-87. PMID: 27219905, PMCID: PMC5513812, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-10-2014-0041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFormer Soviet UnionHarsh prison sentencesDesign/methodology/approach Qualitative interviewsCriminal justice systemUkrainian prisonsJustice systemPrison sentencesOriginality/valueSoviet UnionBio-behavioural surveyPrisonSpecific contextDepartment involvementAdministrative staffUkraineImplementation scienceHIV epidemic
2015
Effect of social relationships on antiretroviral medication adherence for people living with HIV and substance use disorders and transitioning from prison
Rozanova J, Brown SE, Bhushan A, Marcus R, Altice FL. Effect of social relationships on antiretroviral medication adherence for people living with HIV and substance use disorders and transitioning from prison. Health & Justice 2015, 3: 18. PMID: 26709367, PMCID: PMC4684583, DOI: 10.1186/s40352-015-0030-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFamily support structuresSemi-structured interviewsSocial relationsSocial anchorsSelf-reported familyFormer prisonersResource-poor communitiesSocial relationshipsRespected personDouble jeopardyCentral themeHIV stigmaClose readingCommunityBackgroundThis paperFriendsAddiction problemsPeopleSocialrelationshipsPrisonSupport structurePrisonersThecommunityFamilyInterviewsCorrelates and Experiences of HIV Stigma in Prisoners Living With HIV in Indonesia: A Mixed-Method Analysis
Culbert GJ, Earnshaw VA, Wulanyani NM, Wegman MP, Waluyo A, Altice FL. Correlates and Experiences of HIV Stigma in Prisoners Living With HIV in Indonesia: A Mixed-Method Analysis. Journal Of The Association Of Nurses In AIDS Care 2015, 26: 743-757. PMID: 26304049, PMCID: PMC4600662, DOI: 10.1016/j.jana.2015.07.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnti-Retroviral AgentsAntiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveHIV InfectionsHumansIndonesiaInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPrincipal Component AnalysisPrisonersPrisonsPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesQualitative ResearchSelf DisclosureSexual PartnersSocial DiscriminationSocial StigmaSurveys and QuestionnairesTruth DisclosureConceptsHIV stigmaExperiences of stigmaDrug-related offensesMixed-methods analysisDepth interviewsSyndemic natureLargest prisonFamily membersPrisonersHIV statusIndonesiaDrug useStigmaIncarcerationCurrent incarcerationGroup of HIVMale HIVStigma SurveyHIV treatmentExperienceHIVPrisonOffensesPrevention goalsStigma levels
2000
A review of the legal and ethical issues for the conduct of HIV-related research in prisons.
Lazzarini Z, Altice FL. A review of the legal and ethical issues for the conduct of HIV-related research in prisons. AIDS & Public Policy Journal 2000, 15: 105-35. PMID: 12189712.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLegal responsesLegal actionPrisoner researchPrisoners' accessEthical researchEthical issuesPrison systemClinical trial researchersPrisonFuture discussionsUnique situationTrial researchersArticleAccessConductMore cooperationCommentaryRecommendationsRealityCooperationHIV/AIDSDiscussionIssuesU.S.Practice
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