§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to protect drug misusers in prison from the risk of contracting the HIV virus.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe education and counselling of prisoners, including drug misusers and other risk behaviour groups, is given high priority. Central initiatives have included the wide distribution of printed material and a video film which stress the high risk from sharing needles198W and syringes. Governors have been urged to use such material to the best effect, and encouraged to develop local educative initiatives. A comprehensive education package with unequivocal messages both for prisoners in general and for specific target groups is in preparation.
Measures taken to combat the misuse of drugs in establishments have included increasing the number of dogs specially trained in drug detection work, training dogs in the detection of heroin and cocaine as well as cannabis, improving staff training on drugs, the issue of further guidance aimed in particular at the prevention of smuggling by visitors and by prisoners returning from home leave, and abolition of the privilege whereby unconvicted prisoners were permitted to have food and drink sent in to them, thereby closing a significant avenue for smuggling.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been taken to encourage drug misusers in prison to identify themselves; and what steps are taken to reduce or eliminate their drug dependency, and ensure that controlled drug intake arrangements free from AIDS infection are available for those requiring them.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggAs I announced in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith) on 31 March, at columns681–82, the possibility of a history of drugs misuse is one of the factors medical officers inquire into during the course of their examination of inmates being received into prison custody. Where drug dependency is identified help in withdrawing is offered, its nature determined by the medical officer's clinical assessment of the individual case. Additionally, at a number of establishments personal support continuing after withdrawal is provided by members of staff or drug counselling agencies from the community.
Guidelines prepared in discussion between the prison department and probation service for the introduction at all establishments of a more co-ordinated response to drug misusers were issued on 25 September 1987 and copies were placed in the Library. These describe the responsibility of the prison governor to ensure the development of a coherent system and the complementary roles of medical and probation officers in the provision of care and support. The use of suitable drug counselling agencies from the community is encouraged. The expectation is that as these through-care arrangements develop, rather than seek to conceal their habit, inmates will increasingly be inclined to identify any need of help on or shortly after reception. This and concurrent action to combat the entry into prison of illicit drugs will be especially valuable where they are in HIV high-risk behaviour groups.