PRISON DRUG DEALERS INFILTRATING OUR JAILS TOO EASILY

THE revelation that there were 622 drug seizures in Irish jails over the
past two years might be taken as a sign that the problem of addiction among
prisoners is under control. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If anything the latest detection figures, brought to light under the Freedom
of Information Act, represent the tip of the iceberg. Experts agree that the
statistics reflect only a fraction of the amount of drugs being smuggled
into prisons like Mountjoy to feed the habit of addicted prisoners.

Surprisingly low detection rates are due mainly to the relatively few
searches carried out by prison officers.

Most seizures are discovered accidentally when prisoners are moved to new
cells or if the drugs fall out of their pockets.

The sheer scale of the crisis is enormous. A grim picture of the deep seated
nature of the problem can be derived from figures showing 44% of inmates at
Mountjoy are drug users, while an even more frightening 70% of those in
nearby St Patrick's institution for young criminals under the age 21 are
addicts.

The big question is what can the authorities do about the problem? For a
start, the issue of methadone treatment is something that has to be
addressed as a matter of urgency. Under the existing system when addicts on
methadone rehabilitation programmes are convicted and sent to prison their
treatment comes to an abrupt end. Once behind bars, many resort to heroin
because they cannot get their hands on methadone. There are compelling
arguments in favour of continuing methadone treatment in prison for those
already involved in the programme.

While there is a methadone programme in St Patrick's, one has yet to be
introduced at Mountjoy. Belated plans to introduce a similar scheme there
are to welcomed even though the initiative comes over a year after the
deadline set by Government.

Statistics showing that over 70% of addicts share needles is yet another
serious problem. Ultimately this can lead to Hepatitis C, the incidence of
which is reportedly at a high level among prisoners. Any move to supply
inmates with needles would be resisted on security grounds by prison
officers. Their lives could be in jeopardy if needles were freely available
in jail.

Yet the reality is that needles are being swapped on a wholesale basis, so
the possibility of introducing a sterilisation programme should be explored.
With research showing one in five prisoners start using drugs after going
into prison, the inadequacies of the present system are clear to be seen.

It would be difficult to exaggerate the urgency of tackling the crisis of
addiction which has a huge spin off on crime.

A more comprehensive approach to the problem would involve a greater use of
counsellors, GPs and psychiatrists.

Unless the authorities conduct a full review of dispensing and control of
drugs they will lose the war against the crisis of addiction in our prisons.