Corrections_Today_January_February_2020_Vol.82_No.1

Correctional Health Perspectives

health. Chronic illnesses such as hy- pertension, heart disease and asthma have higher prevalence with the justice-involved population (Katzen, 2011). Access to care in the commu- nity has historically been a difficult issue for many justice-involved individuals due to a variety of reasons that relate to socioeconomic back- grounds (Katzen, 2011). Physical exams are required for all individuals in the weeks follow- ing intake to a facility. For a large portion of this population, they are being diagnosed and provided with physical and mental health treatment for the first time in years. But upon reentry to society, many individuals will not continue to access healthcare and regular treatment. Noncompli- ance with follow-up of treatment plans is typical for the population reentering the community. Complementary and Alternative Medicines If a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine, it’s considered “comple- mentary.” If a non-mainstream practice is used in place of conventional medicine, it’s consid- ered “alternative” (National Institutes of Health, 2018). To have better success for achieving higher quality of life, physical and mental health is of the utmost importance. In addition to compliance with regular treatment plans, CAM should be taught to incarcerated individuals.

This is not to replace medical or- ders, but to act as the name implies. These should complement and, if possible, be an alternative to existing interventions when symptoms can be effectively managed using CAM. Many CAM options find their roots in holistic and ayurvedic medicine. Finding cost-effective resources that will assure maintaining treatment compliance can benefit the incarcer- ated population and correctional institutions. This can lead to better outcomes for public health. Correctional Facility Capabilities Prescription drugs are very ef- fective in managing symptoms of illness, but CAM can be made more readily available to offenders to promote overall wellness. There are facilities that currently utilize these modalities, but exemplary practices with peer-reviewed research that justify programs as evidence-based are not readily available. Potential environments to in- troduce CAM options can exist at nearly all levels of housing units within a correctional agency. Wher- ever group programming space is available, CAM programs can be taught. This is also achievable dur- ing individual treatment or therapy sessions. Many CAM options can be performed alone in a single cell. Some CAM programming can be very useful in specialized units. As increases in various segments of

correctional populations increase, de- partments have grown accustomed to housing similar cohorts in similar en- vironments. For example, a housing unit for geriatric patients may benefit from a certain CAM option while a unit designed for residential mental health treatment or a different unit that houses military veterans may find interest and compliance in other CAM programs. The main point is that there are a variety of different options that can be attempted with minimal physical plant and security constraint. for the incarcerated population is no simple task. There is grow- ing evidence that various types of CAM can be effective for different sections of populations and these cohorts are also representative of inmate-patients. Offering various CAM program options can lead to a reduction in severity and frequency of a variety of symptoms. These can also be cost-effective and yield physiological and psychological improvement. CAM is also easily translated back into the community upon reentry. Research has shown it is useful for individuals with a variety of medical problems, mental health issues, and substance use dis- orders. CAM also benefits the elderly and those diagnosed with cancer. All of these critical issues are representa- tive of inmate-patients. → CAM Interest Picking a CAM that is suitable

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