Guidance published on treating addicts in prison
Guidance on the clinical management of drug dependency among adult prisoners has been published by the Department of Health, in conjunction with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, among other professional organisations.
The guidance (PDF 1MB) describes how clinical services for drug
misusers should develop over the coming two years as more resources are
made available.
It says that recent years have seen substantial progress in the provision
of non-clinical drugs services in prisons but that the development of
clinical services has been slow by comparison, with detoxification over
a set period being the only prescribing response to drug dependency in
most prisons.
The guidance makes it clear that although detoxification remains the
preferred model a range of treatment options is required to meet the
various needs of different prisoner patients.
Key elements of the new treatment model include:
· Prescribed management of withdrawal
· Stabilisation on opiate substitutes followed by detoxification or maintenance
therapy
· Alcohol detoxification
· Benzodiazepine withdrawal
· Clinical monitoring of stimulant withdrawal
· Joint working between clinical, CARAT (counselling, assessment, referral,
advice and throughcare) and criminal justice integrated teams
· Psychosocial support for at least 28 days
The guidance will be reviewed in a year’s time. |
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