Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them

Introduction: Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), especially Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs), pose a substantial challenge to health and the security of the prison environment. This study analyses the phenomenon from the perspective of people in prison and that of professionals working with them. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative approach was used to analyze self-reported experiences with ‘Spice’ (NPS) among users in prison. A semi-structured questionnaire was also disseminated among professionals working in these settings to better understand (a) the impact of NPS on their work; (b) perceived issues on safety in their working environment; (c) approaches used to tackle the phenomenon and best practices. Results: Psychotic events resulting from the collected Spice accounts (5) were marked by hallucinations, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideations. Other emerging elements included fear, paranoia, inability to be with others, mistrust, breakdown and other risky behaviors. Overall, 186 responses from prison staff were collected across the country. 67% claimed NPS to have had a deep impact on their work as they commonly witnessed episodes involving outbursts of anger, slurred speech, hallucinations, psychosis, and significant mental deterioration among those in prison. Some 91% have witnessed aggression at least once, with 53% experiencing direct harm. Suggested interventions included enhanced training and education (84%), improved detection (92%) and treatment and support services (93%). Conclusions: Findings highlight the urgent need for joint multi-disciplinary efforts to tackle the exponential escalation of NPS in prisons as well as to facilitate the recovery and societal reintegration of those affected. Phenomenology can be recommended as a valuable methods to study drug induced experiences

Antipodean Theory for Educational Research

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Myenteric neuronal denervation and proliferation in Chagas megacolon.

<p>(A) Neurons within the Auersbach’s plexus. Pictures were taken at 100x magnification. Scale bars (10 μm) are inserted. (A.1.) Auersbach’s normal neuronal ganglion is shown within the safety surgical border of an adenocarcinoma patient. Black arrow shows a myenteric neuron, while red arrow leads to a myenteric glial cell. (A.2.) Myenteric neuronal degeneration is shown in a Chagas megacolon patient. Blue arrow shows a myenteric degenerated neuron. Black-white arrows indicate gliosis. Black-red arrow leads to a myenteric degenerated glial cell. (B) Myenteric (M.) neuronal density was determined the number of myenteric neurons <i>per</i> total (T.) number of colonic crypts in each sample (***<i>P</i><0.0001 <i>vs</i> CTRL). (C) Proliferation was determined given as positive reactions per total crypt cell numbers (iPCNA; ***<i>P</i><0.0001 <i>vs</i> CTRL). (D) Graph shows the colonocytes numbers <i>per</i> colonic crypt (***<i>P</i><0.0003 <i>vs</i> CTRL). Significance was analyzed with the Mann Whitney test. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Values are shown as the mean ± standard deviation.</p

Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organiser Regions (AgNOR) in Chagas megacolon.

<p>(A) Illustrative pictures for AgNOR staining in an adenocarcinoma patient. Positive reactions are seen as black dots in the colonocytes nucleus. (A.1) Micrography was taken at 40x magnification (Scale bar = 20 μm). (A.2) Micrography was taken at 100x magnification (Scale bar = 10 μm). (B) Total numbers of AgNOR dots <i>per</i> cell nucleus within the crypt bottom are shown (**<i>P</i><0.0062 <i>vs</i> CTRL). (C to E) Total numbers of 2 (C; **<i>P</i><0.005 <i>vs</i> CTRL), 3 (D; *<i>P</i><0.01 <i>vs</i> CTRL), and 4 (E; ***<i>P</i><0.0001 <i>vs</i> CTRL) AgNOR dots (+) cells <i>per</i> crypt bottom are shown. Significance was analyzed with the Mann Whitney test. Statistical significance was set at <i>P</i><0.05. Values are shown as the mean ± standard deviation. (F) Mean values for percentage difference between megacolon and adenocarcinoma samples are shown according to nuclear distribution of AgNOR dots <i>per</i> nucleus.</p

S'Imbiatu. Gift and Community in Central Sardinia

This essay, which is part of a wider forthcoming publication, discusses the general principles and the underlying cosmology upon which gift-giving in central Sardinia rests. Gift-sending (imbiatu) is here presented as a ‘total social fact’ reflecting the key role it plays in community life and the motivating force behind ‘being and belonging’. If tradition (su connotu), including customary law—often in opposition to state law — hasresulted in delivering the ‘code of vendetta barbaricina’, it has also stimulated a giftgiving system (imbiatu) which positively complements the ethical but ‘inconclusive’ code of vendetta. This ‘archaic’ system is not necessarily anti-modern, anti-rational and prelogical as some psychologists, psychiatrists and criminologists studying Sardinia have tended to claim. On the contrary, the common tradition which supports both giftsending and the code of vendetta accentuates the role of women as gift-givers, when they choose life over death and vendetta. KEYWORDS gift-sending; imbiatu; community; Sardinia; vendett