PRISON DRUG ADDICTS NEED SYRINGES TO AVOID RISK OF FATAL DISEASE

Prisoners addicted to drugs need to be supplied with sterile syringes to
prevent them contracting potentially fatal diseases behind bars, it was
claimed yesterday.

An Irish Penal Reform Trust report calls for the same drug treatment
facilities in the community to be made available in prisons.

The report says lack of sterile injecting equipment is exposing inmates to
serious health risks such as hepatitis or HIV and notes deaths as a result
of drug overdoses have often outnumbered suicides over the last decade.

The report proposes a number of measures to tackle drug abuse:

* Thorough searching should be implemented to cut down on the level of
drugs smuggled into prisons

* Surveillance and regular cell searches should be part of the prison routine

* Every prison should have a drug free environment

* Each prisoner should have a personalised sentence plan and rehabilitation
programme

* Co ordinated treatment between prison and the outside community.

Dr Ian O'Donnell of the reform trust said action needed to be taken
immediately to prevent more young inmates being dragged into a web of
addiction. "Some vulnerable young people begin intravenous drug use while
in custody and for those who want treatment, pathetically little is
available. The problems are well known and what is required now is clear
vision and leadership," said Dr. O'Donnell.

The report singles out Mountjoy prison for special measures and recommends
a range of treatment options for individual prisoners, including a
methadone programme and needles.

The Trust also highlights major delays in the transfer of mentally ill
prisoners to hospitals and says disturbed inmates are languishing for
prolonged periods in padded cells.

The report draws attention to the chronic underfunding of prison health
care. Ireland spends the least on prison health in Europe.

The report forms part of a submission to the Irish Prisons Service, which
is conducting a root and branch review of prison health services.

The reform trust has welcomed the review but said it hoped the final
proposals would be acted on. "Prisoners are entitled to a standard of
health care equivalent to that available in the wider community.
Unfortunately this minimum standard is not being met.

"It is to be hoped the current exercise in consultation is not just another
delaying tactic", Dr O'Donnell said.