In French prisons, 90% of men are smokers

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the issue of smoking in European prisons is insufficiently addressed. While Western countries are seeing a general trend towards a decrease in tobacco consumption, no progress has been recorded in prisons, which constitute a key health issue for the prison population and prison staff. WHO stresses the urgent need to address this public health problem.

Tobacco is the most commonly used psychoactive substance among people living in prison. Studies in the WHO European Region show that smoking prevalence is at record levels. Overall, these rates are not comparable to those measured in national populations: depending on the country, smoking prevalence in prisons is two to four times higher than the average[1].

Smoking at record levels, including among women and pregnant women

For men, France stands out, along with Greece, for the highest smoking rate in Europe, with around 90% of the prison population smoking. However, the other countries in the survey, which recorded lower prevalence rates, also show a particularly problematic situation. In Germany, 88% of men in prison are smokers, compared to 77% in Italy, 81% in Poland, 83% in Switzerland, and 85% in Lithuania. Among women, smoking is also at unprecedented levels: 85% in the United Kingdom, 82% in Lithuania and 63% in France. The WHO points out that studies previously carried out in prisons show that two-thirds of pregnant women in prison are also smokers.

Passive smoking, a norm in European prisons

Contrary to what has been observed in the general population in these countries, no improvement has been noted in prisons. In addition to this high prevalence of smoking, there is the problem of passive smoking, as prisoners spend most of their time in closed and poorly ventilated environments. As the WHO points out, although efforts have been made in the European region to develop "smoke-free" cells, these measures remain insufficient, and air quality remains very poor overall, increasing the risk of heart disease and lung cancer by 20 to 30% in the non-smoking prison population. Although this point is not addressed by the WHO, it can be added that the problem of exposure to passive smoking among staff is also highly problematic, since there is an employer's obligation to ensure safety results.

Promotion of withdrawal, development of sports activities in prison: possible avenues for improvement

To address this health inequality, the World Health Organization recommends full implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, closer collaboration with prison services, and greater consideration of the issue of tobacco control by prison authorities. Furthermore, WHO highlights the need to support smoking cessation programs in prisons, and to provide more support to prisoners who wish to stop smoking. One of the major obstacles identified to making progress in this area is that a large proportion of smokers in prison explain their smoking by the feeling of boredom caused by the prison situation. One of the solutions proposed to this problem would be to develop physical and sporting activities, while at the same time improving the quality of life of prisoners.

FT

[1] World Health Organization, Tobacco use in prisons, 2022, (accessed 05/11/2022)