D3 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).
In 2006/07 the average daily population of Scotland’s
prisons was 7,183 prisoners. There were 26,195 recorded entries
into prison in 2006/07 (Table D3.2). |
Key Points 2006/07
Overview
- Of 1,784 Addictions Testing Measure (ATM) tests carried out in
2006/07 28% were positive for drug use where the drug misuse
occurred while in prison. A further 13% were positive tests where
the prisoner may have misused the drugs for which they tested
positive before entry to prison (Table D3.1).
- 4,546 prisoners, nearly a fifth (17%) of the total recorded
entries into prisons (26,195) 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 D3.2).
- 4,051 prisoners undertook an addictions assessment in 2006/07
(Table D3.2).
- 12,298 one-to-one motivational support sessions were delivered
(Table D3.2).
- 1,228 prisoners across Scotland were being prescribed methadone
according to a census taken on the 8th December 2006. This equated
to 17% of the prison population on that day. Data from a census the
previous year, taken on 30th December 2005 showed 984 prisoners
(16% of the prison population) were being prescribed methadone on
that day while the census taken on 17th December 2004 showed 845
prisoners (14% of the prison population on that day) were being
prescribed methadone (Table D3.3).
- Thirty percent of respondents to the 2007 Prison Survey
reported use of illegal drugs in prison in the previous month
(Table D3.4).
- Two percent of respondents to the 2007 Prison Survey who
provided information on injecting reported injecting drugs in
prison in the previous month (Table D3.4).
- Of those who had provided information on sharing injecting
equipment in the last month (87 prisoners) 80% reported sharing
injecting equipment in prison in the previous month (Table
D3.4).
Drugs Recorded
- Opiates were detected in 16% of the 1,784 ATM tests,
benzodiazepines in 14% and cannabis in 5% compared with 13%, 12%
and 11% respectively in 2005/06 (data not shown). Buprenorphine,
amphetamines and methadone were detected in 1% of tests (Table
D3.1).
- Of the prisoners reporting use of illegal drugs in prison in
the 2007 Prison Survey 70% reported use of heroin in the previous
month, 64% reported use of cannabis and 45% use of benzodiazepines.
Over a quarter (25%) reported using other opiates (other than
heroin and methadone) while smaller proportions reported cocaine
(17%), methadone (without prescription) (18%), temazepam (12%),
ecstasy (9%) and amphetamines (5%) (Table D3.4).
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 D3.2 outlines key outputs delivered by the EACS. This is
not comparable with drug strategy outputs published prior to
2006.
Methadone prescribing in prison
This data is a count of the number of prisoners recorded as
receiving a methadone prescription on a single day. The data has
now been collected on three occasions, on the 17th December 2004,on
the 30th December 2005 and on the 8th December 2006. Kilmarnock was
added for the first time in the 2006 census. Kilmarnock prison
submitted information for the census for the first time in
2006.
Scottish Prison Survey 2007 – 10th 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 2007 took place between May and June
2007. 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
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
References
1 Prison Statistics Scotland 2006/07, Scottish Government.
2 The 2006 census included prisoners in Kilmarnock prison for
the first time.
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