Kate Dolan and Ana Rodas
Prisoners have a high level of drug use prior to imprisonment. Many inmates report having injected drugs and using cannabis. Prison authorities employed a range of strategies to…
Abstract
Purpose
Prisoners have a high level of drug use prior to imprisonment. Many inmates report having injected drugs and using cannabis. Prison authorities employed a range of strategies to detect drugs and drug use in prison. However, it was unclear which supply reduction strategies operated, and the prevalence and types of drugs detected in Australian prisons. The purpose of this paper is to examine supply reduction strategies in Australian prisons. Information on searches for drugs, and from inmate urinalysis was collected. The study focussed on adults in fulltime custody in Australia in 2009.
Design/methodology/approach
A representative of all corrective services departments and justice health services was asked to complete a questionnaire on supply reduction strategies, including searches for drugs and drug testing of inmates.
Findings
The two main supply reduction strategies identified in all Australian prisons were the use of drug detection dogs and urinalysis programs. Despite an extensive use of drug searches and urinalysis, the detection of drugs was modest for both strategies. The most commonly used drug was cannabis with the detection of drugs such as amphetamines and heroin being very low.
Research limitations/implications
Prison inmates have a history of high levels of drug use prior to imprisonment. However, the supply reduction measures of drug detection dogs and urinalysis indicate that drug use was low in Australian prisons.
Practical implications
The paper recommends that urinalysis comprises targeting testing regimes and that random testing ceases in order to be a more cost effective use of resources for drug detection.
Originality/value
The study is the first report on the range of supply reduction measures in Australian prisons and, possibly in the world. Both measures were employed extensively across the country and finds of drugs and drug use were relatively low. Two possible conclusions can be drawn; that either drug use was very low in prison or that it was well concealed from the authorities. A comparison of random testing with targeted testing of inmates, where the former yields fewer positive results shows drug use was likely to be low rather than well concealed.
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Kate Dolan, Ana Rodas and Adam Bode
– The purpose of this paper is to compare the use of drugs and alcohol by Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners and examine relevant treatment in Australian prisons.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare the use of drugs and alcohol by Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners and examine relevant treatment in Australian prisons.
Design/methodology/approach
Prison authorities were surveyed about alcohol and drug use by prisoners prior to and during imprisonment and drug and alcohol treatment programs in prison. The literature was review for information on alcohol and drug use and treatment in Australian prisons.
Findings
In 2009, over 80 percent of Indigenous and non-Indigenous inmates smoked. Prior to imprisonment, many Indigenous and non-Indigenous inmates drank alcohol at risky levels (65 vs 47 percent) and used illicit drugs (over 70 percent for both groups). Reports of using heroin (15 vs 21 percent), ATS (21 vs 33 percent), cannabis (59 vs 50 percent) and injecting (61 vs 53 percent) were similarly high for both groups. Prison-based programs included detoxification, Opioid Substitution Treatment, counselling and drug free units, but access was limited especially among Indigenous prisoners.
Research limitations/implications
Drug and alcohol use was a significant issue in Australian prisons. Prisoners were over five times more likely than the general population to have a substance use disorder. Imprisonment provides an important opportunity for rehabilitation for offenders. This opportunity is especially relevant to Indigenous prisoners who were more likely to use health services when in prison than in the community and given their vast over representations in prison populations.
Practical implications
Given the effectiveness of treatment in reducing re-offending rates, it is important to expand drug treatment and especially culturally appropriate treatment programs for Indigenous inmates.
Originality/value
Very little is known about Indigenous specific drug and alcohol programs in Australian prisons.
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Giacomo Barbieri, Ana Sofia Vega, Jessica Gutierrez, Juliana Laserna and Luis Mario Mateus
Value constitutes a key principle of asset management (AM) and decision-making processes should be oriented toward optimizing it. Value models refer to models that can measure the…
Abstract
Purpose
Value constitutes a key principle of asset management (AM) and decision-making processes should be oriented toward optimizing it. Value models refer to models that can measure the effects of any decision over value, supporting decision-making concerning the assets through their whole lifecycle. In this context, the objective of this work is to develop a methodology for establishing value models to support decision-making in strategic capital investments for multi-category portfolios.
Design/methodology/approach
An approach that integrates multi-criteria decision-making, AM principles and participatory processes is proposed.
Findings
The analytic hierarchy process and multi-attribute utility methods are used as analytical tools enabling the assignment of absolute merits to the evaluated alternatives. The application of the AM principles allows one to frame the decision problem within the context of AM. Furthermore, participatory processes enhance transparency and trust in the developed value model and empower employees.
Practical implications
Through the application of a case study, it has been demonstrated that the approach not only facilitates the ranking of alternatives and a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses but also establishes a shared concept of objectives (and attributes for their assessment) within the company for the capital investment decision-making.
Originality/value
The AM literature often lacks systematic approaches for identifying value and making value-based decisions. While some approaches have been proposed for guiding strategic capital investments, they typically rely solely on financial and risk criteria. This work aims to bridge this gap by integrating various dimensions of value into the development of a comprehensive value model.
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Jelena Ombla, Marina Vidaković and Ana Slišković
This study was motivated by the lack of the scientific focus to a particularly vulnerable social group in Croatian society – parents with official status of “parent caregivers,”…
Abstract
This study was motivated by the lack of the scientific focus to a particularly vulnerable social group in Croatian society – parents with official status of “parent caregivers,” who provide care to their child/children with the most severe disabilities. The aim of the study was to examine the role of caregivers’ cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and external social support in their well-being. As indicators of well-being, we used mental health, life satisfaction, and stress experience in the parental role. The sample was non-probabilistic and consisted of 210 caregivers, mostly mothers, from the Republic of Croatia (N = 204). Caregivers completed an online questionnaire which included set of demographic questions, followed by scales of general mental health, life satisfaction, parental stress, social support, and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The results point to the protective role of social support for the mental health of parents, life satisfaction, and the experience of stress in the parental role. Among the different cognitive emotion regulation strategies used in the study, positive refocusing had the most protective role for caregivers’ well-being.
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Ana Carolina Conti-Silva and Renata Ferreira Roncari
The purpose of this paper is to substitute wheat flour by passion fruit peel flour in Brazilian honey bread (pão de mel), with evaluation of the breads’ sensory features, chemical…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to substitute wheat flour by passion fruit peel flour in Brazilian honey bread (pão de mel), with evaluation of the breads’ sensory features, chemical composition and physical properties.
Design/methodology/approach
Honey breads with wheat flour (standard) and with replacement of this ingredient by 10 to 50 per cent passion fruit peel flour were produced. Two sensory tests were applied, to identify how different formulations with passion fruit peel flour were when compared to the standard formulation, and also the acceptability of the products. The selected honey breads, through sensory results, were evaluated regarding to chemical composition and physical properties.
Findings
Formulations with 10 and 20 per cent substitution were the least different to formulations with only wheat flour, and were as acceptable as the wheat flour sample. Physical and chemical characteristics of breads with 10 and 20 per cent passion fruit peel flour were similar; however, honey bread with 20 per cent passion fruit peel flour had higher fibre content, ash quantity and hardness value; a lower specific volume; and a different colour from the wheat flour sample.
Practical implications
This study offers an opportunity to food industries through utilization of an agro-industrial by-product on the formulation of a Brazilian traditional product.
Originality/value
This study presents the feasibility of using an agro-industrial by-product to Brazilian honey bread, enhancing the nutritive value of this product and reducing the impact of passion fruit peel flour on the environment.
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Presents the findings of a study of female hospital cleaners in Sweden. Uses participatory research i.e. discussion and analysis of issues in groups to show how potential is often…
Abstract
Presents the findings of a study of female hospital cleaners in Sweden. Uses participatory research i.e. discussion and analysis of issues in groups to show how potential is often under utilized within such teams. Outlines the strengths which exist in subordinate groups in spite of structural obstacles. Focuses on models and methods to emphasize such strengths.