Staying Quit After Release from prison (SQuARe) trial

Rates of tobacco smoking are extremely high among people entering Australian prisons. In 2015, the prevalence of tobacco smoking in prison entrants was estimated at 74%. People with a history of incarceration experience disproportionate rates of smoking-related health problems including cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease; these disparities are often compounded by entrenched socio-economic disadvantage.

Correctional authorities in Australia and elsewhere are progressively implementing smoke-free policies that prohibit tobacco smoking on prison grounds for both people who are incarcerated and prison staff. However, correctional smoking bans are insufficient to maintain smoking abstinence after release from prison. Interventions to prevent relapse to smoking after release from smoke-free prisons are urgently needed.

Using a randomised design in a cohort of previously smoking adults recently released from smoke-free prisons in Victoria, Australia, we aimed to evaluate the effects of an intervention involving (1) a brief behavioural intervention and self-help booklet encouraging post-release smoking abstinence, (2) provision of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) mouth spray to manage cravings and (3) and referral to abstinence supports (Quitline, and general practitioners (GPs) for prescription of SCP) following release from smoke-free prisons, on smoking abstinence.

Funding: Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth)

Project team: Prof Stuart Kinner, Dr Jesse Young, ms Cathy Segan, Dr Cheneal Puljevic; Ms Emilia Janca, Mr Alex Campbell