§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will update Prison Service Order 3550 to take account of advances in the treatment of opioid addiction with buprenorphine; [85042]
(2) in how many prisons buprenorphine is made available for opioid substitution treatment. [85043]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 4 December 2002]: Prison Service Order 3550 introduced a new Prison Service Standard for Clinical Services for Substance Misusers. This already provides that, as new evidence becomes available on the chemical management of detoxification or abstinence, establishments should develop further treatment guidelines which are in line with those available in the national health service (NHS).
Buprenorphine is included in treatment protocols, developed in conjunction with the NHS, at six Prison Service establishments. This broadly reflects the extent of its current usage in the community.