Experimental Drug Studies Within the Prison System

In the United States, millions of children and adults utilize the various state funded health care programs, commonly referred to as Medicaid. For some adults, especially those within the prison systems, state funded Medicaid provide routine healthcare while incarcerated. Often, for some incarcerated adults, medical care goes beyond any state funded program and instead, may include a clear access to desperately needed medications, including experimental drugs. From a pragmatic point of view, the use of experimental, non-FDA approved, drugs in the prison system may be a process not well thought out by the government. Understanding the disadvantages to the use of experimental drugs in the prison system will aid not only those who are incarcerated, but also their family members, in the fight against such arrangements.

For drug manufacturers and distributors, working to obtain FDA approval in experimental drugs, the adults within the prison system have been found to be a key avenue in which to test drugs for use in the human population. To the advantage of the prisoner, most of these experimental drug studies involve monthly payments and range from simple topical treatments for dandruff to use of medications to improve depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. So, what are the disadvantages?

For drugs which are unsuccessful in study, the side effects and health implications can lead to lifelong complications in the prison system and to the incarcerated individuals when released from prison. With many leaving prison uninsured, the side effects and complications from experimental drugs can leave a financial and physical destruction which may, in turn, lead to further crime.

For drugs which are successful in study, prisoners are often not permitted to continue utilizing the drugs beyond the study and, therefore, do not reap the benefits of their participation in the study and approval of the drug. Additionally, if the FDA approved drug proves significantly beneficial to the prisoner, even after incarceration, without appropriate health insurance, the prisoner is often left without adequate medication access and, oftentimes, will suffer from adverse complications from withdrawal of medications after leaving prison.

While it is important to comply with FDA standards in submitting study results when seeking FDA approval, many drug manufacturers may be crossing the line in public policy when utilizing one of the most weak groups of our society; the incarcerated adult. To ensure proper protection against health complications, when in contact with an incarcerated loved one, it is prudent to maintain open communication regarding fee paid optional drug testing programs within the prison system. In doing so, the loved one may avoid becoming a member of a dangerous study involving a drug which may alter health, physically and mentally, forever.