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Needle Replacement in Scottish Prisons: Practical Issues for Implementation

Needle Replacement in Scottish Prisons: Practical Issues for Implementation. Stephen Heller-Murphy Addiction Policy Development Scottish Prison Service. What We Propose Recommendations to SPS board Prisoner Need Prisoner Survey data. Management Acceptance Issues Consultation Q & A

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Needle Replacement in Scottish Prisons: Practical Issues for Implementation

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  1. Needle Replacement in Scottish Prisons:Practical Issues for Implementation Stephen Heller-Murphy Addiction Policy Development Scottish Prison Service

  2. What We Propose Recommendations to SPS board Prisoner Need Prisoner Survey data Management Acceptance Issues Consultation Q & A Staff Attitude Basic Training Practical Issues For Implementation

  3. Recommendations to SPS Board, March 2005 • Bleach tablets continue to be available. • Clean injection equipment is stored on reception and returned to prisoner on release. • Wider availability of substitute prescribing, prioritisation of IDUs. • Distribution of sterile injecting equipment within prisons as part of a phased, risk assessed process subject to the needs of prisoners.. • No punishment for prisoners holding legitimate injecting equipment or reduction of cessation of substitute prescription. • Literature and training available to staff and prisoners. • Introduction of paraphernalia care plans.

  4. Prisoner Need: 8th prisoner survey data (July 2005) Sample 6,274 77% response rate • 1417 used in the previous month • 943 used heroin in the previous month • 126 injected in the previous month • 73 shared injecting equipment

  5. Management Q & A (reflects staff attitude) • In-prison needle exchange means uncontrolled numbers of dirty needles in prisons • Unconvinced that clean needles reduce staff risk • Injecting equipment provision condones drug use • If we supply prisoners with equipment when they have a script they will be at risk of overdose

  6. Management Q & A • Injecting and heroin use is not prevalent in our jail • Avril Taylor’s research on injectors suggests community needle exchange is not effective and despite provision users still share • No evidence presented against provision

  7. Staff Attitude • Anecdotally we know that attitude is poor among frontline staff towards drug using prisoners • A culture of punishment over treatment for being a drug user but punishment for a +ve drug test has now stopped and it’s replacement is under review • Will awareness training and a change of system be enough to change attitudes?

  8. Contact stephen.heller-murphy@sps.gov.uk SPS HQ Calton House 5 Redheughs Rigg Edinburgh EH12 9HW 0131 244 8636

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