Life in prison: perspectives of drug injectors

Although there is a considerable literature on people's lives in prison, li ttle is known about drug injectors inside prison. Drug injectors with priso n experience were invited to discuss prison life during qualitative in-dept h interviews and small group discussions. Drug injectors were recruited in the community in England and 24 people participated. Analysis of responses identified the following broad themes as important-entering prison and earl y experiences; prison conditions; prison regimes; days in the lives of drug injectors; relationships and social networks; and informal rules and attit udes. This article draws on drug injectors' descriptions to illustrate thes e findings, in an attempt to help sensitize researchers and policy makers t o some of the issues that are at the heart of the problems of responding to drug injectors in prison.