Uso de álcool e drogas por policiais penais: uma revisão de escopo

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to map scientific literature on the use of alcohol and drugs by Prison Officers through a scoping review. Methods: The scoping review followed the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and adhered to the recommendations of the international guide Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The searched databases included PubMed, Online Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (Medline), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs), Online Scientific Electronic Library (SciELO), Virtual Health Library (VHL), Web of Science, Scopus, and gray literature. Customized search strategies were used for each database to capture as much literature as possible on the topic. Articles that corresponded to the research question were selected. Results: The selected papers established associations between alcohol consumption and smoking, the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcoholism, and the impact of the absence of regular physical activity. Furthermore, a connection was found between burnout and higher levels of alcohol consumption among Prison Officers. The articles emphasized the need to ensure support for the physical and mental health of Prison Officers and advocated for early diagnoses of mental disorders, including alcohol or drug abuse. The review also stressed the importance of further in-depth research on the topic of alcohol and drug use and the necessity for improvement in the working conditions of Prison Officers. Conclusion: The research findings from this scoping review indicate that the risk of alcohol and drug abuse increases with age, years of service, exhausting workload, and the burden imposed by prison inmates. It is crucial to promote occupational programs targeted at Prison Officers to prevent the use of alcohol and drugs. Overcoming stigmas associated with working in prisons, as well as biases related to alcohol and drug addiction, should be a priority among managers. This scoping review highlights the need for further in-depth research to identify and comprehend factors related to the use of alcohol and drugs by Prison Officers.