C3 Drug misuse and treatment in Scottish prisons
The Addictions Testing Measure (ATM) was introduced in 2005, replacing Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT). Figures relating to ATM are not comparable with those previously published for MDT (see Background information for further detail).
A new Enhanced Addictions Casework Service (EACS) was introduced in 2005. EACS figures are not comparable with previously published figures on drug strategy outputs (see Background information). |
Key Points 2005/06
Overview
- Of 903 Addictions Testing Measure (ATM) tests carried out in 2005/06, 24% were positive for drug use where the drug misuse occurred while in prison. A further 10% were positive tests where the prisoner may have misused the drugs for which they tested positive before entry to prison (Table C3.1).
- 5,657 prisoners, nearly a quarter (24%) of the total recorded entries into prisons (23,593) were offered an addictions assessment. It should be noted that assessment is only offered to prisoners with a sentence of 31 days or longer (Table C3.2).
- 4,400 prisoners undertook an addictions assessment in 2005/06 (Table C3.2).
- 9,668 one-to-one motivational support sessions were delivered (Table C3.2).
- 984 prisoners across Scotland were being prescribed methadone according to a census taken on the 30 December 2005. This equated to 16% of the prison population on that day. Data from a census the previous year, taken on17 December 2004 showed 845 prisoners (14% of the prison population) were being prescribed methadone on that day (Table C3.3).
- 29% of respondents to the 2006 Prison Survey reported use of illegal drugs in the previous month (Table C3.4).
- 3% of respondents to the 2006 Prison Survey reported injecting drugs in prison in the previous month (Table C3.4).
- Of those who had injected in the last month (111 prisoners), 71% reported sharing injecting equipment in the previous month (Table C3.4).
Drugs Recorded
- Opiates were detected in 13% of the 903 ATM tests, benzodiazepines in 12% and cannabis in 11%. Cocaine and buprenorphine were both detected in 1% of tests (Table C3.1).
- Of the prisoners reporting use of illegal drugs in the 2006 Prison Survey 72% reported use of heroin in the previous month. 70% reported use of cannabis and 43% use of benzodiazepines. Over a quarter (27%) reported using other opiates (other than heroin and methadone) while smaller proportions reported cocaine (19%), methadone (without prescription) (18%), temazepam (13%), ecstasy (10%) and amphetamines (7%) (Table C3.4).
Background information
Addictions Testing Measure
The Addictions Testing Measure (ATM) was introduced in 2005, replacing Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT). ATM is carried out on 5% of the prison population, three times per year. The results are anonymous and cannot be attributed to the individual tested. This contrasts with the previous system of MDT for which tests were carried out monthly on 10% of the prison population and were attributable to specific prisoners, with penalties for positive results. By making the results of the new measure anonymous prisoners who had taken drugs did not attempt to conceal the fact. This measure is designed to better inform the interventions required for prisoners, rather than penalising. Participation in the ATM tests is voluntary for all prisoners. For these reasons the results of ATM are not comparable with previous figures published which were obtained through MDT.
Addiction Service Outputs
A new Enhanced Addictions Casework Service (EACS) was introduced in August 2005. New interventions include alcohol assessment, one-to-one, group work and smoking cessation support. The aims of the EACS are to:
- Encourage current and former substance misusing prisoners to access addictions treatment within the prison.
- Provide addictions assessment relevant to the needs of the prisoners and the substance of misuse.
- Include prisoners and other relevant support providers in devising and agreeing individualised care plans.
- Give prisoners access to a relevant range of interventions (treatment and care activities relevant to their sentence length).
- Emphasise the importance of consistency and continuity of care, both in the prison setting and in the period immediately around release.
- To minimise the dangers of reduced tolerance levels on release from prison.
An addictions assessment is offered to prisoners with a sentence of 31 days or longer. Prisoners who are serving a sentence of less than 31 days are not offered the assessment due to the short length of their stay, but are referred to either voluntary throughcare or national throughcare addictions services, depending on criteria.
Table C3.2 outlines key outputs delivered by the EACS. This is not comparable with previously published drug strategy outputs.
Methadone prescribing in prison
This data is a count of the number of prisoners recorded as receiving a methadone prescription on a single day. This data has been collected twice, on the 17th December 2004 and on the 30th December 2005.
Scottish Prison Survey 2006 — 9th Survey
The Survey, which is undertaken in each of the 15 Scottish prisons, involves all Scottish prisoners. The Survey is designed to achieve a number of objectives:
- To make use of prisoners’ perceptions of service-delivery and service-quality in its business planning.
- To provides prisoners with an opportunity to comment on a range of issues that impact on their experience in prison.
- To allow staff to get a better understanding of how the halls or areas they manage compare to equivalent areas and halls and in so doing to provide a tangible way to help share items of ‘best practice’.
- To allow the Prison Service, through annual repeats of the same questions, to track progress (or the lack of it) across the various dimensions that are included in the Survey.
The annual prison survey 2006 took place between May and June 2006. It is a self-completion, anonymous questionnaire (tick box response) which is hand delivered to each prisoner on site in the establishment on the day the survey takes place. It therefore provides a one-day snapshot of prisoner views in each establishment.
Further information
The Prison Survey 2006 is available at: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Default.asp?menuid=232
Research reports with further information on drug misuse and treatment in prison and methadone maintenance in prisons are available from the SPS website at: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Default.asp?menuid=214
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