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Being behind bars 'bad for your health'

June 3, 2010 - 1:04AM

Australia's prisoners are much less healthy than the rest of the population, and it is in everyone's interest to turn that around, says the author of a new report.

The first national study to examine the health of prisoners has confirmed the country's jails are full of people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.

Some 81 per cent of prisoners smoke and 71 per cent used illicit drugs in the 12 months before they were locked up, according to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report released on Thursday.

Prisoners also suffer from diseases at a much higher rate than the general population. A third have hepatitis C while one in five have hepatitis B.

As for chronic conditions, a quarter of prisoners have either asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer.

Mental illness is also prevalent. Some 37 per cent of prisoners reported having a mental illness at some time, while 18 per cent said they were currently on medication to treat a mental health condition.

Report co-author Ingrid Johnston says while prisoners are more likely than others to take risks with their health, jail time "presents an opportunity for health interventions and treatment".

And healthier prisoners means a healthier society.

"An estimated 50,000 prisoners are released from prison each year in Australia," Ms Johnston said in a statement.

"So the health of prisoners is significant for the health of the wider Australian community."

Ms Johnston said she was "particularly concerned" about the number of people entering prison with mental health issues.

The AIHW report found indigenous prisoners have lower levels of mental health issues than non-indigenous prisoners.

"Of indigenous prison entrants, 26 per cent reported mental health issues, compared with 41 per cent of non-indigenous prison entrants," the report states.

But the prevalence of communicable diseases is higher in the indigenous prison population.

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