A Patient Education and Counseling Prospectus on Substance Use and Infectious Disease Risk Reduction Programming for Men Exiting Prison

During the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, the United States raced to incarcerate more people than any other nation in the world. The imprisonment and reentry system is in need of major reform. Imprisoned men and women have high rates of chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, and substance abuse disorders. The major infectious diseases include Human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), Hepatitis B and C, and Tuberculosis (TB), all of which can be transferred to other inmates, and to un-incarcerated communities upon prisoner release. Severe alcohol/drug abuse, inconsistent access to HIV and other prevention and education services, and lack of peer-led and culturally sensitive interventions contribute to the high rates of disease seen in incarcerated populations. Based on a peer education model, the authors outline a substance use and infectious disease risk reduction program for men exiting prison, with the following overarching goals: to develop an eight session, six month intervention that will preserve the health status of releasees, reduce activities that promote the spread of infectious diseases in the outside community, prevent parole revocation or other recidivism, and improve the community response to inmates leaving prison.