Drug Misuse in Prisons: Some Comments on the Prison Service Drug Strategy

• NCJ Number: 192358
• Journal: Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 40 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2001 Pages: 347-363
• Author(s): Anthea Hucklesby; Christine Wilkinson
• Date Published: November 2001
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study involved conducting an analysis of drug misuse in three Leicestershire prisons.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the level of drug misuse in these prison establishments; the level of staff knowledge and management of drug misuse; and the current staff training in drug misuse. Another purpose was to explain how effective multi-disciplinary working with prison staff and staff in community based facilities may be developed. In-depth interviews were conducted with 240 prisoners. A sample of discipline staff was interviewed. Results show that, while there is a drug use problem within the prison estate, data show that the problem may not be as great as has been previously suggested. Much of the drug use involves the use of cannabis rather than other drugs and takes place rather infrequently. A small group of problem drug users do exist within the prison system and have the potential to cause problems not only in the prison system but in the community on release. There is little or no evidence to suggest that the current preoccupation with reducing supply is having a marked effect on the level of drug misuse in prison. It is suggested that a more targeted Drug Strategy, which recognizes the diversity of drug users and approaches to deal with the problem of drug use in prison, would provide a more effective as well as cheaper alternative to the present policy. Results also indicate that all staff required two different types of knowledge about drugs. The first is the knowledge of the identification, effects, methods of use and problems associated with drug misuse. The second is the knowledge of available services and procedures. Drug agencies based in the community offer a source of specialist expertise that needs to be brought into prison. The challenges to this are the lack of understanding by the Prison Service of the way in which drug misuse is tackled in the community, the lack of fit between community agencies and Prison Service in their philosophies, and the lack of confidence by both entities in their working practices. 2 footnotes, 29 references