Written Answers. - Drugs Abuse.
John O'Donoghue
Question:
206
Mr. O'Donoghue
asked the
Minister for Justice
the initiatives, if any, she will take to deal with the drug abuse in Mountjoy prison; and the steps, if any, she will take to stem the supply of drugs and ensure the prosecution of visitors to the prison supplying such drugs.
[6328/97]
As with most serious problems which afflict the community, drug abuse has, inevitably, become a major issue in some of our prisons. I am satisfied that in facing this problem in the prison setting, the initiatives which I have brought forward represent a well balanced and effective response to what is, without doubt, one of the greatest menaces facing society world-wide, both inside and outside the prisons.
A number of means have been employed in an effort to curb the supply of illegal drugs to prisoners in Mountjoy and throughout the wider prison system. These have included, in respect of Mountjoy prison, the adaptation of the existing areas, the provision of improved searching facilities and a much improved closed circuit video surveillance system in the prison's main visiting area. The implementation of these measures in mid-1995 resulted in an immediate increase in the number of seizures of drugs and associated contraband and a sharp reduction in the quantities of illegal drugs circulating in the prisons. Other steps have and are being considered. I have asked for a report on the efficacy of using sniffer dogs in the prisons. If the indications are positive, I will have no hesitation in employing this and any other means of cutting off the supply of drugs to prisoners.
The duty of care towards persons committed to custody in the prisons extends to all health related issues of which drug addiction is, of course, one of the most significant. The general medical service at the prison has been developed over recent years in order to meet the needs of the increased number of drug addicted prisoners committed from the courts. Subject to the direction of the prison medical officers in appropriate cases there is now a 14-day detoxification programme available for drug addicted committals. A working relationship has been established with a number of the treatment agencies who mostly operate under the aegis of the Eastern Health Board. Individual offenders are, in suitable cases, granted conditional temporary release in order to avail of recognised treatment programmes in the community, often following extensive contact through the offices of the prison medical service, the probation and welfare service and the relevant Eastern Health Board clinic or general practitioner. A level of co-operation has also been established with the courts in respect of the monitoring of offenders' progress — often through drug urine testing — prior to planned court sentence reviews.
A number of treatment-avoidance options for drug addicted prisoners in Mountjoy have also been specifically developed over the last 12 months. These include the drug treatment unit based at the prison's health care unit which has now been in operation for over seven months. The treatment unit provides a structured programme with humane detoxification followed by a six week therapeutic course. The unit has medical, nursing and psychiatric services in place and all personnel are experienced in addiction treatment. The therapy programme is co-ordinated by a senior probation and welfare officer and draws on the experience and expertise of a number of community based agencies which are active in this field.
This is based at the training unit adjacent to Mountjoy prison, has been in operation since June 1996. It currently accommodates about 80 offenders in an environment where a drug-free existence has become the norm. Prisoners with a background of chronic drug abuse who have come to terms with their addiction, as well as those who have had no prior involvement with drugs, are equally availing of this facility. The regimes in the health care unit and the drug-free unit are underpinned by a strict drug urine testing programme. These initiatives have been developed in response to a real demand for treatment and avoidance options for prisoners. They are working well and I intend to expand and develop both models throughout the wider prison system in order to maximise their effect and availabilty. Treatment in all cases must be voluntary and, in order to be effective, the individual concerned must show the necessary commitment and motivation. It is unfortunately the case that despite the availability of the treatment options which I have outlined above, many offenders continue to fail to grasp the opportunities provided to address their addiction.
Finally, regarding the prosecution of visitors found attempting to supply drugs, I wish to emphasise that in such cases the gardaí are informed and are called to the prison. Proceedings in respect of such incidents have been taken over the last 18 months with convictions and, in a number of cases, sentences of imprisonment being imposed.
