From December 2006, all prisoners with addictions who are on government-funded registered Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) programmes at the time of imprisonment have been able to continue the treatment in prison.
Previously, once they were imprisoned, most prisoners with addictions were required to gradually withdraw from the drug, often involuntarily.
If they still needed the treatment on release they would have to rejoin a waiting list - and would often re-offend during this waiting period in their desperation to get drugs.
National Clinical Leader Debbie Gell says evidence shows that addicted prisoners maintained on methadone are less likely to re-offend on release, or try to obtain illegal drugs while in prison.
“Long-term MMT is best practice for these people and the most desirable for the wider community,” Debbie says.
Before the December change, the only prisoners allowed to continue their methadone treatment in prison were pregnant women, those with HIV or Hepatitis C, applicants for home detention, and those who would be released before the withdrawal process was complete.
“Prisoners on MMT are also offered support to voluntarily withdraw from methadone while in prison,” Debbie says.
Under observation: More prisoners
can now continue their Methadone
Maintenance Treatment in prison.
Prisoners take the liquid dose of methadone while under observation and must drink it with milk.
“This prevents them from trading the drug, or being forced to give it to other prisoners,” Debbie explains.
The change will affect around 60 prisoners a year and has not required any additional funding from Corrections, as those on the MMT programme are already being funded by their local District Health Board.
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ISSN 1178-8453