Written Answers. - Drugs in Prisons.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
218
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he has satisfied himself with the success to date of his Department's drug treatment and rehabilitation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2846/00]
The Prisons Service has developed the following programmes to tackle drug misuse among the prison population: all committals to Mountjoy and St. Patrick's who misuse drugs are offered a 14 day detoxification programme; ongoing addiction counselling and education programmes; community based agencies visit prisons to provide support services and information, including individual counselling as required; each institution has a local committee providing education services for prisoners, including, inter alia, information on drug issues and the risks posed by communicable diseases; a detoxification and drug-free unit is in operation in Mountjoy and an intensive drug-free therapy programme co-ordinated by the probation and welfare service is in place.
The Mountjoy treatment facility was opened in July 1996 at the prison's health care unit. This unit is the first of its kind in a prison environment in the State. It is modelled on hospital based units in the community and is aimed at weaning addicts off drugs by gradually reducing dosages of substitutes such as methadone. A detoxification and therapeutic counselling programme lasting six weeks is provided for offenders in groups of nine at any one time. Two hundred and fourteen inmates have successfully completed the programme in the drug treatment unit to date.
A review of the first 12 months of the programme, July 1996 to July 1997, found that out of 88 prisoners accepted into the programme, 36 had returned to drug use one year later. When reviewed 18 months later, up to February 1999, a further 15 patients had relapsed, thus giving a total number of 51 prisoners out of 88 who had relapsed. Sixteen patients could not be followed up on but if those had also relapsed this would give us a 12 monthly relapse rate of 78%. This figure may appear high but is favourable when viewed in comparison to in-patient detoxification programmes internationally which have, on average, a 90% relapse rate. The fact is that the majority of addicts may become drug free and relapse several times before succeeding in becoming drug free for an extended period.
The drug-free unit which is in operation at the training unit adjacent to Mountjoy Prison has accommodation for 96 offenders. This drug-free unit enables those prisoners who do not have a background of drug abuse and those who have demonstrated the desire to stop taking drugs to be detained in a drug-free and secure environment.
I do recognise, however, that more needs to be done. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a second drug treatment programme will begin at the health care unit in Mountjoy in a matter of weeks. This will provide an additional nine treatment places at any one time. The emphasis will be on offering detoxification and intensive therapeutic counselling over six weeks to prisoners nearing release with a view to returning them drug free onto a structured drug treatment programme in the community.
The action plan on drug misuse and drug treatment in the prison system which I approved last year provides a detailed strategy to raise the level of treatment for drug addicted offenders. This includes the expansion of detoxification facilities, more drug-free areas and the provision of methadone maintenance. The provision of addiction counselling support services is central to the plan.
At my request the Director General of the Prisons Service recently established a national steering group for prison based drug treatment services with a view to implementing the action plan. The steering group comprises representatives from my Department, the Eastern Health Board, senior Prisons Service management and the probation and welfare service. The Director General has agreed to chair the steering group himself to signal the importance that is attached by the prison authorities and Government to this issue. The group has invited, via public advertisement in last week's newspapers, submissions from the general public as well as from special interest groups in relation to its review.
