Custodial Treatment: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs

(asked on 7th July 2020) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing the recommendations for the treatment of people in custody who are abstinent from alcohol, illicit substances and opioid substitution therapy and who wish to remain abstinent on release contained in the report Blueprints for the Treatment and Throughcare of Prisoners with Histories of Drug Dependence, published on 16 July 2019 by the Ex-Prisoners Recovering From Addiction Working Group.


Answered by
Lucy Frazer Portrait
Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This question was answered on 15th July 2020

MoJ and DHSC are continuing to work together with partners to articulate a coherent picture of how healthcare is delivered throughout the criminal justice pathway, from the point of arrest through to release.

In line with the recommendations from the Blueprints for the Treatment and Throughcare of Prisoners with Histories of Drug Dependence report, health and justice partners have worked collaboratively to achieve effective treatment services for prisoners recovering from addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. HMPPS are meeting with the NHS later this month to discuss how we use this unique period of Covid-19 to engage with prisoners who may have used this time to become abstinent.

Furthermore, we have supported the 10 Prisons Project establishments to set up Incentivised Substance Free Living areas. These enable prisoners who can demonstrate – through regular testing – that they are not misusing drugs, to experience better living conditions. In addition, NHS England are currently rolling out RECONNECT services for those leaving prison to ensure that they engage with community health services to support them to avoid returning to the criminal justice system. This will help to improve the links in the community between healthcare and probation services including the probation service’s Through the Gate service.

HMPPS and MoJ have also commissioned a £9 million joint health and justice Drug Recovery Prison pilot at HMP Holme House. The DRP is a whole prison approach to tackle the supply of drugs into prison; whilst creating an environment where prisoners have access to the full range of health services that meet individual needs and are given support to lead a drug free life while they are in custody and also following their release into the community.

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