Cigarette Smoking and Smoking Cessation Promise in Formerly Incarcerated Men and Women

Introduction: Tobacco use is a major risk factor for a variety of chronic health problems, including cancer and heart disease. The long term effects of cigarette smoking is attributed to an estimated 443,000 deaths each year, and approximately 49,400 related deaths due to exposure to secondhand smoke. An estimated 19.3% of the U.S. adult population (45.3 million individuals) were current smokers in 2011; however, the smoking prevalence in previously incarcerated populations has consistently been shown to be substantially greater than the general population, with around 60-80% opting to smoke upon release to the community. Since 2004 all facilities under the control of the federal government are 100% smoke free. Furthermore, in state prisons and county jails, correctional officials have adopted varying degrees of smoke-free resolutions that promote smoke free policies. Purpose: In order to learn more about cigarette smoking in formerly incarcerated men and women, we asked the participants in this study (a racially and ethnically diverse group of men and women released from New York correctional facilities) to describe their smoking behaviors before, during and after incarcerations. Methods: Qualitative data presented are derived from men and women who were formerly incarcerated in New York prisons and the New York City jail, Rikers Island. Participants were 60 racially and ethnically diverse men and women, comprised of Black Americans (13 Black men and 19 Black women), Latino Americans (17 Latinos and 8 Latinas) and White Americans (3 White females), that ranged in age from 21 to 60 (M=46.42, SD: 6.88). Results: Of the participants interviewed, 91.7% released from a smoke-free correctional facility resumed cigarette smoking; 8.3% remained abstinent. Daily consumption ranged from smoking 4 cigarettes to 60 cigarettes. The four themes that emerged from the study were: (1) lifetime exposure to cigarette smoking; (2) cigarettes used to de-stress and are pleasurable; (3) access, availability, and relapse; and (4) smoking cessation strategies. Negative influences from participants’ family and peers, stressful housing situations and mandated programs emerged from this study as key challenges to abstaining from smoking cigarettes upon release. Implications for Practice: Involving family members and partner in smoking cessation interventions could influence newly released justice-involved men and women not to resume cigarette smoking and possibly maintain long-term abstinence.