New study on drug use in Irish prisons shows improvement in treatment provision and support services

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (NACDA) today (Thursday 10 April 2014) published a new study on drug use in Irish prisons.

The prevalence of drug use, including intravenous drug use and blood-borne viruses among the Irish Prisoner Population was carried out by Dr Anne Drummond and Dr Mary Codd of UCD and was funded by the NACDA and the Irish Prison Service (IPS).

The study aimed to determine the need for drug treatment and harm reduction services in Irish prisons by estimating the prevalence of drug use, including intravenous drug use and blood-borne viruses, amongst the prisoner population.

The study found that while drug use among prisoners is far greater that in the general population, significant improvements have taken place in drug treatment provision and access to support services such as addiction counselling and nursing:

• · seven out of ten prisoners who needed methadone said they received it,
• · two in ten received detox from benzodiazepines when they needed it,
• · four in ten who needed access to a drug-free wing had access to one,
• · three in ten who needed drug treatment received it.

The Chair of NACDA, Professor Catherine Comiskey, said, The prison population is a high risk group with a disproportionate number of people with a history of using drugs. In prison it is hoped that they will have an opportunity to effect a positive change in their lives by availing of treatment services”.

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Source: merrionstreet.ie, 10/04/14