Transcript Needle Replacement in Scottish Prisons

Needle Replacement in Scottish Prisons:
Practical Issues for Implementation
Stephen Heller-Murphy
Addiction Policy Development
Scottish Prison Service
Practical Issues For Implementation
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What We Propose
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Recommendations to
SPS board
Prisoner Need
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Prisoner Survey data
Management
Acceptance Issues
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Consultation Q & A
Staff Attitude
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Basic Training
Recommendations to SPS Board,
March 2005
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Bleach tablets continue to be available.
Clean injection equipment is stored on reception and returned to
prisoner on release.
Wider availability of substitute prescribing, prioritisation of IDUs.
Distribution of sterile injecting equipment within prisons as part of a
phased, risk assessed process subject to the needs of prisoners..
No punishment for prisoners holding legitimate injecting equipment
or reduction of cessation of substitute prescription.
Literature and training available to staff and prisoners.
Introduction of paraphernalia care plans.
Prisoner Need: 8th prisoner survey data (July 2005)
Sample 6,274
77% response rate
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1417 used in the previous month
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943 used heroin in the previous month
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126 injected in the previous month
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73 shared injecting equipment
Management Q & A (reflects staff attitude)
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In-prison needle exchange means uncontrolled
numbers of dirty needles in prisons
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Unconvinced that clean needles reduce staff risk
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Injecting equipment provision condones drug use
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If we supply prisoners with equipment when they
have a script they will be at risk of overdose
Management Q & A
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Injecting and heroin use is not prevalent in our jail
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Avril Taylor’s research on injectors suggests
community needle exchange is not effective and
despite provision users still share
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No evidence presented against provision
Staff Attitude
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Anecdotally we know that attitude is poor among
frontline staff towards drug using prisoners
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A culture of punishment over treatment for being a
drug user but punishment for a +ve drug test has
now stopped and it’s replacement is under review
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Will awareness training and a change of system be
enough to change attitudes?
Contact
[email protected]
SPS HQ
Calton House
5 Redheughs Rigg
Edinburgh EH12 9HW
0131 244 8636