ONE IN FIVE CONVICTS ADDICTED TO DRUGS

One Fifth Of Convicts Become Hooked On Drugs While Behind Bars, The
Telegraph & Argus Can Reveal.

The Home Office has been forced to admit the shocking numbers - an
estimated 15,000 based on 75,000 of the prison population being male -
after questioning from Shipley's MP.

Home Office minister David Hanson said research suggests nationally one in
five men - and fewer than one in ten women - who had used at least one of
six drugs (cannabis, heroin, illicit metha-done, amphetamine, crack and
cocaine) reported first using one of them in prison.

Shipley MP Philip Davies said it was "breathtaking" so many people could
develop the habit in prison.

He said: "It should be the one place where this does not happen, where
people are being watched. The Government should hang their head in shame so
many people are becoming addicted."

Mr Hanson defended the figures and in a parliamentary written answer to Mr
Davies added: "Research also shows the level of drug misuse falls
dramatically compared with use prior to imprisonment and that prison is one
of the key influences in getting people off drugs.

"Overall, prison contributes to a reduction in drug misuse for the majority
of prisoners."

Work is under way in the district to encourage closer working between
Bradford and Airedale PCT, Criminal Justice representatives and other
partners to offer the support to people coming in and out of prison who
have drug problems.

Liz Barrett, of Bradford and Airedale's substance misuse unit, said it was
vital prisoners who were physically dependent on drugs received the correct
treatment on release to ensure they did not get hooked again.

She said: "This is new work and talks have started. We are looking for
personalised health care when people come out of prison which leads to
safer communities.

"We want better data when people are coming out of prison, like a patient
would have that had been in hospital. It is about joining services
together. In prison there is a captive audience and people can be helped
but they also need help when coming back into the community.

"There may also be people needing help when going into prison. We are
starting to do some really positive work."

In June the T&A revealed junkie convicts made more than UKP130,000 in
payouts for being forced to go cold turkey.

According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, last
year there were 36 claims totalling UKP137,056 made to heroin addicts at
Leeds Prison whose treatment was withdrawn or cut short while they were
behind bars.