Prison sentences 'harm rehabilitation of drug users'
The standard of healthcare and support for prisoners with drug problems is lacking in some prisons, report says
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Monday, 17, Mar 2008 11:23
Community orders should be used instead of short prison sentences for less serious offences to address drug use.
That is the conclusion of the UK Drug Policy Commission (UK DPC), which warned today that prison sentences risk doing more harm than good for the rehabilitation of drug users.
Its review of programmes in the UK for problem drug-using offenders in the criminal justice system uncovered two "striking findings".
The first was that community services may be more beneficial than short prison sentences for the treatment of these offenders.
Secondly, the standard of healthcare and support for prisoners with drug problems "falls well below" the acceptable minimum standards in many prisons.
"The review we have carried out demonstrates just how far the prison system needs to travel if it is to deliver a standard of health care and support for prisoners which is sufficient to make a sustained impact on offenders' problem drug use once they leave," commented UK DPC chair Dame Ruth Runciman.
Today's report recommends a focus on the quality of services provided, including the need for wider 'wrap-around' services such as support for finding stable housing and employment.
It says there is reasonable evidence to support specialist drug courts; community sentences; prison-based therapeutic communities; and opioid detoxification and methadone maintenance programmes within prisons and the community.
Commenting on the report, Dr Clare Jenkins, chairman of the British Medical Association's civil and public services committee, said: "Prison doctors will sadly recognise the depressing situation described… and sympathise with many of its conclusions.
"Drug rehabilitation programmes are often poorly funded and not adequately linked with community based services. Any drug dependent prisoner should be monitored and supported after release so that their addiction does not lead them back to a life of crime.
"Unfortunately, support services in the community are often difficult to organise and access. In some areas they are practically non-existent."
Justice minister David Hanson said he welcomed the report's contribution to how drug treatment in prisons and the community can be improved.
"The report recognises the challenges facing the criminal justice system in addressing the problems caused by drug-misusers and the difficulty in treating a chronic relapsing condition," he added.
"[It] acknowledges improvements made in recent years, including significant increases in resources for drug treatment leading to increased numbers being treated.
"Prison drug treatment funding has increased year-on-year since 1996/97 - up 1,008 per cent - with record numbers engaging in treatment. Success of the drug strategy is illustrated by the reduction of drug misuse in prisons - as measured by the random mandatory drug testing programme - which has declined by 64 per cent since 1996/97."
Mr Hanson and health minister Dawn Primarolo are due to make an announcement on developments in the delivery of prison drug treatment later today.