[Therapy of substance use disorders in correctional settings]

Substance use disorders are often associated with antisocial behaviour and criminality. Consequently, alcohol and drug use disorders are frequently noticed in prisoners and many of them require treatment in prison. Adequate management and therapy of affected individuals include diagnosis of substance use and comorbid disorders, management of withdrawal symptoms and implementation of follow-up therapy. However, there are no established specific treatment interventions in prison.For opioid use disorders, opioid maintenance treatment is the established first-line treatment, and its effectiveness has also been documented in correctional settings. The range of oral and depot preparations available should be further expanded. To date, there has been a significant lack of treatment options for convicted individuals with alcohol use disorder. Some diagnostic and therapeutic advice is provided by external counsellors and social workers. Key principles of treatment in substance use disorders in prisoners are reviewed in this article.