§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the(a) nature, (b) content and (c) success rate of (i) alcoholism and (ii) drug rehabilitation programmes for prisoners. [74799]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Prison Service currently provides a range of rehabilitation programmes applicable to both drug and alcohol addiction. These include Minnesota 12-step, cognitive behavioural and relapse prevention programmes, in addition to longer-term therapeutic communities.
Although the programmes vary in structure, content and delivery, they all incorporate educational and counselling group-work forms of therapy. Community drug agencies are involved in the development and delivery of all drug rehabilitation programmes and work in partnership with prison staff.
Independent evaluation of the first tranche of drug rehabilitation programmes found completion rates to be broadly comparable to those achieved in the community. The Prison Service requires all rehabilitation programmes to gain central accreditation by April 2002 and, over the next three years, will commission independent research to assess the longer-term effects of rehabilitation upon offending and drug misuse.