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07:32
Novel Apparatus and Method for Drug Reinforcement
Published on: August 20, 2010
"Up yours": smuggling illicit drugs into prison
Sanju George1, Steve Clayton, Vasudevan Namboodiri
1Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust, Addiction Psychiatry, The Bridge Substance Misuse Service, 15 Larch Croft, Birmingham, B37 7UR, UK.
BMJ Case Reports
|September 29, 2011
Summary
Patients on methadone maintenance treatment for heroin dependence may smuggle drugs into prison. This study explores reasons and proposes policy changes to prevent drug smuggling in correctional facilities.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Criminology
- Public Health
Background:
- A significant number of individuals receiving community-based treatment for heroin dependence also experience incarceration.
- Prison healthcare systems aim to provide equivalent care to community settings, but challenges exist.
- Existing drug treatment protocols within prisons may inadvertently contribute to drug smuggling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the motivations behind drug smuggling by a patient undergoing methadone maintenance treatment.
- To describe the prevalence and nature of drug use within correctional facilities from a patient's perspective.
- To identify potential treatment and policy interventions to mitigate drug smuggling in prisons.
Main Methods:
- Case study of a heroin-dependent patient on methadone maintenance treatment.
- Qualitative description of the patient's experiences with drug smuggling and drug use in prison.
- Analysis of treatment and policy implications.
Main Results:
- The study details a specific instance of a patient smuggling methadone and heroin into prison.
- The patient's narrative highlights personal reasons and perceptions of drug use extent within prisons.
- Findings underscore the challenges in maintaining treatment continuity and preventing illicit drug access in correctional settings.
Conclusions:
- Drug misuse is prevalent within prison environments.
- Current treatment and policy frameworks require enhancement to effectively prevent drug smuggling.
- Addressing the demand and supply of illicit drugs in prisons necessitates a multi-faceted approach involving both treatment adjustments and policy reforms.
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