Extra funding for prison drug treatment announced

Extra funding for prison drug treatment announced

LONDON. March 17, 2008/3mnewswire.org/ -- The Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health have today announced significant extra funding to raise the standard of clinical drug treatment in prisons.

The £12.7m already announced for this current financial year will rise to £24m in 2008/9, £39m on 2009/10 and £43m the year after. This additional funding will further develop the integrated drug treatment systems in prison.

Also announced today is the creation of a national Prison Drug Treatment Review Group to oversee the development of prison drug treatment. This Review, announced by the Justice Secretary in January as part of a range of measures aimed at tackling re-offending by getting prisoners off drugs and into work, will be chaired by Professor Lord Kamlesh Patel.

Prison drug treatment services have developed rapidly in the last few years, with record numbers of offenders engaged in treatment. Drug use in prisons, as measured by random mandatory drug tests (MDT) shows that the positive rate has fallen by 64% over the last 10 years from 24.4% in 1996/97 to 8.8% in 2006/07.

A Price Waterhouse Coopers report commissioned in 2007 acknowledged the considerable investment in prison-based drug services over the last decade, but indicated a need for a more strategic and evidence-based approach to service delivery, which is now being addressed.

Prisons Minister David Hanson MP said:

"It is essential that we rigorously address the damage wrought by drug dependence for the sake of those who misuse drugs, their families, wider society and future victims.

"In response to the Price Waterhouse Coopers report I, together with my colleague the Rt Hon. Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State for Health have convened a national Prison Drug Treatment Review Group to oversee the development of prison drug treatment. I am delighted to announce that Professor Lord Kamlesh Patel, OBE has agreed to act as independent chair of the Group.

"Effective drug treatment lies at the heart of reducing re-offending. It directly addresses the harm to individuals, making communities safer and helping offenders to lead law-abiding and productive lives on release."

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo MP said:

"This extra money will ensure better quality and more consistent drug treatment is provided across all prisons. This offers a real chance for offenders to break free from a cycle of drugs and crime.

"The Price Waterhouse Cooper Review we are publishing today shows how we can do more to help prisoners with drug problems and am delighted Lord Patel has agreed to head up a new group drive forward these improvements."

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