Abstract
We investigated the prevalence of Common Mental Health Disorders (CMD) and substance abuse among correctional officers in a northeastern state of Brazil. In the study, 403 workers answered the SRQ-20, the ASSIST questionnaire and a semistructured interview script. Results show an incidence of 23.57% of CMD and abuse/dependence in tobacco (35.9%), alcohol (88.3%), marijuana (10.5%), cocaine (3.6%), amphetamine (1.1%), inhalants (7.6%), hypnotics (4.4%) and hallucinogens (0.3%). The determinant factors are: type of detention facility, having another occupation in the field of security, over 10 years in the profession and working double shifts. This is challenging not only in terms of providing health care for correctional officers, but also to psychologists working in this field due to how it affects the lives of those workers.
Keywords
penitentiary system; correctional officers; work conditions; mental health; alcohol and drugs