By Tony O’Reilly-
Thousands of prisoners in the Uk have joined drug-free wings, as the Ministry Of Justice wages a war on addiction ramps up to 100 special blocks in prisons by 2025 alongside abstinence-based units.
New Incentivised Substance Free Living Units are now up and running in 45 prisons across England and Wales – getting addicts off illicit drugs and reducing their reliance on synthetic opiates like methadone.
Prisoners are rewarding for co-oporating with the scheme geared towards the crackdown on drug addiction
Statistical figures reveal that around half of prisoners are addicted to drugs, while crack and heroin addicts account for two-thirds of shoplifting offences and half of burglaries, blighting communities up and down the country.
Drug addiction is widespread in the Uk, particularly in working class social stratums, though there are also drug addicts among the middle class and the elites.
However, addiction is more widespread among the working class, and a higher percentage of them commit crime to support their habit. Working class addicts are also more likely to explore different types of drugs, exposing themselves to a potential level of mentl health complications arising from the combination of their life challenges and that of being on so many drugs. Most drug addicts are also heavy drinkers.
Research shows that offenders who are supported to get off drugs for good are 19 percentage points less likely to slip back into a life of crime.
The new wings are designed to set criminals free of drugs and stay clean while they pay their debt to society, instead of languishing on drug substitutes like methadone which can hinder their rehabilitation.
Today’s news, alongside tough new security including X-ray body scanners, forms a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to break the cycle of addiction and re-offending which costs the tax-payer £19 billion a year.
Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Dominic Raab, said:
”We are clamping down on drugs behind bars with tough new security, but we know reducing supply is not enough to break the cycle of addiction and offending.
Our new drug-free units and drug recovery wings will help prisoners tackle their addictions, including to opiate substitutes like methadone, in turn cutting their risk of reoffending and creating safer streets.
The Uk government is also investing in up to 18 drug recovery wings where prisoners can go through 6 months of intensive abstinence-based treatment to break their reliance on methadone as well as dangerous substances.
On the new incentivised units, offenders will tackle their addictions through substance misuse courses and regular drug testing
In exchange, prisoners who are making progress towards getting clean receive extra time out of cell for education and work opportunities and, once they’ve turned their back on drugs for good, including substitutes like methadone, the prospect of being transferred to a drug recovery wing for 6 months of intensive, fully abstinence-based treatment.