Drugs and Alcohol Drugs and Alcohol in Prisonin PrisonTo what extent are prisons in the UK To what extent are prisons in the UK meeting the needs of drug and alcohol meeting the needs of drug and alcohol dependants?dependants?

TopicsTopics

• Methods of rehabilitationMethods of rehabilitation

• Heroin addiction/ Methadone useHeroin addiction/ Methadone use

• Controlling drugs in prisonControlling drugs in prison

• Alcohol addiction Alcohol addiction

• Successes and failures Successes and failures

Methods of Methods of RehabilitationRehabilitationWhen treating drug addiction it is important to remember that; When treating drug addiction it is important to remember that;

•drug addiction is a physical illness which needs treated rather drug addiction is a physical illness which needs treated rather than a lifestylethan a lifestyle

•that all drug addicts have different needs meaning rehab must that all drug addicts have different needs meaning rehab must be appropriate to the addict and personal to thembe appropriate to the addict and personal to them

•that drug addiction is mostly linked with other factors such as that drug addiction is mostly linked with other factors such as mental health or a negative experience in their life such as being mental health or a negative experience in their life such as being victims of abuse, this means to treat the addiction you need to victims of abuse, this means to treat the addiction you need to tackle the other issues alsotackle the other issues also

Methods of Rehabilitation Methods of Rehabilitation (England and Wales)(England and Wales)

• When inmates enter a prison in England or Wales with a drug problem they When inmates enter a prison in England or Wales with a drug problem they are assessed and given advice and may be referred to a drug treatment are assessed and given advice and may be referred to a drug treatment programme (DTP).programme (DTP).

• If a prisoner wants to be put on a DTP they can, however not all prisons are If a prisoner wants to be put on a DTP they can, however not all prisons are well equipped, some are run by prison officers and some are run by well equipped, some are run by prison officers and some are run by outside drug workers, they can last anything from a few weeks up to outside drug workers, they can last anything from a few weeks up to eighteen months, and prisoners are expected to stopeighteen months, and prisoners are expected to stop taking drugs whilst on taking drugs whilst on the programme and may be tested.the programme and may be tested.

• The HM prison service doesn’t seem to have the situation under control. It is The HM prison service doesn’t seem to have the situation under control. It is clear that there is a massive drug problem in UK prisons with 62% of new clear that there is a massive drug problem in UK prisons with 62% of new inmates having a drug problem. This means prison must focus on the drug inmates having a drug problem. This means prison must focus on the drug issue and get to the root causes. It is being sidelined and I believe this is a issue and get to the root causes. It is being sidelined and I believe this is a major cause of re-offending. This would be a hugely worthwhile investment major cause of re-offending. This would be a hugely worthwhile investment as it would be expensive just now but save hugely cut re-offending rates as it would be expensive just now but save hugely cut re-offending rates meaning a more manageable prison population in future years. meaning a more manageable prison population in future years.

Methods of Methods of Rehabilitation (Scotland)Rehabilitation (Scotland)

The Scottish Prison Service have the following aims:The Scottish Prison Service have the following aims:

•to reduce the amount of drugs and drug related to reduce the amount of drugs and drug related paraphernalia entering prisonparaphernalia entering prison

•to offer a variety of options as addicts all have different to offer a variety of options as addicts all have different needsneeds

•to work on inmates education, such as reading and to work on inmates education, such as reading and writing to build self esteem which can help with the writing to build self esteem which can help with the process of coming off the drugsprocess of coming off the drugs

•to ensure staff are well trained and understand the to ensure staff are well trained and understand the importan principlesimportan principles

Heroin Addiction/ Heroin Addiction/ Methadone UseMethadone Use

Undoubtably one of the most controversial issues when it comes Undoubtably one of the most controversial issues when it comes to drug rehabilitation is the use of methadone. In 2008, 20,000 to drug rehabilitation is the use of methadone. In 2008, 20,000 prisoners in England were using methadone. It is used as a prisoners in England were using methadone. It is used as a heroin substitute as it can be prescribed and reduces withdrawal heroin substitute as it can be prescribed and reduces withdrawal symptoms. The problem with methadone is the fact it is just as symptoms. The problem with methadone is the fact it is just as dangerous and just as addictive as heroin. Also, it is incredibly dangerous and just as addictive as heroin. Also, it is incredibly sweet and full of sugar which destroys the user’s teeth. This sweet and full of sugar which destroys the user’s teeth. This means it is virtually impossible for a user to find employment as means it is virtually impossible for a user to find employment as their substance use is visible unlike heroin. Many people say their substance use is visible unlike heroin. Many people say methadone is the easy way out for the prison service as all they methadone is the easy way out for the prison service as all they are doing is making the prisoners easier to manage rather than are doing is making the prisoners easier to manage rather than treating them.treating them.• Video on methadone Video on methadone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWhP742NvhA&feature=related

Controlling Drugs Coming Controlling Drugs Coming Into PrisonInto Prison

• Often drugs get into prisons through the post or Often drugs get into prisons through the post or visitors, despite searchesvisitors, despite searches

• If prisons wanted to stop the flow of drugs into their If prisons wanted to stop the flow of drugs into their premises they could, however prisons can’t work premises they could, however prisons can’t work without drugs as inmates would be uncontrollablewithout drugs as inmates would be uncontrollable

• It would be quite easy to reduce the number of It would be quite easy to reduce the number of drugs in prison but the prison service don’t take drugs in prison but the prison service don’t take much action despite saying in public that they will much action despite saying in public that they will

Alcohol in PrisonAlcohol in Prison

• In 2005 there were 139 homicide cases in In 2005 there were 139 homicide cases in Scotland, 19% of them were carried out whilst Scotland, 19% of them were carried out whilst drunk and 9% were on drugsdrunk and 9% were on drugs

• The 2005 Scottish Prison Survey shows that The 2005 Scottish Prison Survey shows that approximately two-thirds of both male and approximately two-thirds of both male and female prisoners felt their drinking was a female prisoners felt their drinking was a problem outside prison: 34% and 30% problem outside prison: 34% and 30% respectively. respectively. 

• A centre was set up by the previous A centre was set up by the previous government for female offenders as an government for female offenders as an alternative to prison.alternative to prison.

Successes and FailuresSuccesses and Failures

• The amount of drugs found by officers in The amount of drugs found by officers in Scottish prisons has doubled since 2003Scottish prisons has doubled since 2003

• The prison population is ever increasing which The prison population is ever increasing which is making it more difficult to stop the flow of is making it more difficult to stop the flow of drugs and also makes rehabilitation more drugs and also makes rehabilitation more expensiveexpensive

• The number of prisoners prescribed The number of prisoners prescribed methadone in England increased by 57% methadone in England increased by 57% between 2008 and 2009between 2008 and 2009

Useful LinksUseful Links

• Report into methadone use in English and Report into methadone use in English and Welsh prisons Welsh prisons http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8402944.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8402944.stm

• Alcohol in prison Alcohol in prison http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/fhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ford-open-prison-awash-with-alcohol-1680404.hord-open-prison-awash-with-alcohol-1680404.htmltml

• Story about prison guards in america Story about prison guards in america smuggling drugs into prison smuggling drugs into prison http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/contehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/16/AR2009041604337.htmlnt/article/2009/04/16/AR2009041604337.html