Opening the new Drug Treatment Unit at Christchurch Prison: L-R: Tim Harding (Care NZ Chief Executive),
Roger Miller (Care NZ Chairman), Minister of Corrections Hon. Damien O’Connor, Barry Matthews (Corrections Chief Executive).
The opening of Christchurch Prison’s new Drug Treatment Unit this month is one of Corrections’ milestones for 2006, says Chief Executive Barry Matthews.
“The drug treatment units are the cornerstone of our work in drug rehabilitation for prisoners. We know they work and we know they help us to reduce re-offending. I know it is not an exaggeration to say that this unit will turn lives around,” says Barry.
Research shows that offenders who have been through a treatment unit are 13 percent less likely to be re-imprisoned after 24 months than if they had not attended treatment.
The addiction treatment programme will be run by Care NZ, which has provided services at Arohata and Waikeria Prison’s Drug Treatment Units for the past seven years. It is the third such unit in the prison system, and over the next 18 months three further units will be added.
“Prisoners will be accepted on the basis of their motivation to change and they will be housed in the same prison unit during treatment,” says Barry.
The unit’s 24 week programme will include cognitive behavioural therapy, education on addiction and change, building new skills, therapy in group and one on one therapy.
Minister of Corrections Hon Damien O’Connor officially opened the unit and said the unit was an example of the increased focus the Government is placing on providing addiction treatment services as part of the recently launched Effective Interventions package.
“When you consider that 60 percent of offenders are affected by alcohol or other drugs at the time of their offence, the potential for facilities such as these to reduce reoffending is evident,” he says.
Such programmes provide value for money and will make our communities safer, says Mr O'Connor.
“On behalf of myself and the guys we’d like to thank you for the opportunity to do something worthwhile whilst in jail. Like some of my peers here I’ve been using alcohol and drugs for most of my life, and more than half of that in and out of jail. Most of my crimes, if not all, were alcohol-fuelled and a want for money to feed my habits.
So, I look forward to the programme and to cautiously moving forward to a new future. I say cautiously due to not fully knowing the programme. I’ve done programmes before but as you can tell I didn’t work at it - hence relapse back to jail like a revolving door.
I’d like to read something that describes the direction a lot of us have been in:
‘There comes a time in your life when you realise that if you stand still you will remain at this point forever. You realise that if you fall and stay down, life will pass you by.’
Life’s circumstances are not always what you would wish them to be. The pattern of life does not necessarily go as you plan. Beyond any understanding you may at times be led in different directions that you never imagined, dreamed or designed. Yet, if you had never put any effort into choosing a path or tried to carry out your dream, then perhaps you would have no direction at all.
Rather than wondering about or questioning the direction your life has taken, accept the fact that there is a path before you now.
Seems we’ve been going in the wrong direction. With what we gain in the programme we hope to be shown a new path.
Once again, thank you!”
Got a story for Corrections News or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
ISSN 1178-8453