The Corrections Department is doubling its efforts to help prisoners address their alcohol and drug use.

Three new drug treatment units will open over the next two years, which will result in more than 500 prisoners a year getting access to intensive treatment.

A unit will open at Hawkes Bay Prison in April 2007, followed by one at Rimutaka Prison in July 2007 and another at Spring Hill Corrections Facility near Auckland in July 2008.

Drug treatment units have already been established at Waikeria, Arohata and Christchurch Men's Prisons.

The programmes offered in the drug treatment units are run by Care NZ (see article on p 8), and make our communities safer by offering the kind of intensive treatment that gives offenders the chance to turn their lives around.

When I attended the opening of the Christchurch Men’s Prison drug treatment unit in October last year, I was struck by the realistic attitude of the participants I spoke to, who were grateful to be given the opportunity for treatment, and who understood how tortuously difficult it can be to give up what, for some, is the habit of a lifetime.

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.

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 re-offending is very compelling.

The six-month programme provided for participants includes behavioural therapy, education on addiction and change, building new skills, group therapy and one-to-one therapy.

To be admitted to a drug treatment unit, prisoners must:

• be assessed as alcohol and/or drug dependent
• be able to complete a six-month programme before release
• be assessed to have a high risk of re-offending or reconviction
• acknowledge and accept the need to do something about it
• have sufficient intellectual capacity and English language ability to allow participation in a group situation

More drug treatment units to open soon: The Minister talks with a
Corrections officer at the opening of the drug treatment unit at
Christchurch Men’s Prison in October last year.

While in a drug treatment unit prisoners must:

• • adhere to the contract they signed upon entry into the unit - including a stipulation to be drug and alcohol free
• • complete the required number of programme hours
• • agree to attend other activities and work education programmes when not participating in the drug treatment unit programme
• • submit to drug tests when required.

It's very pleasing to know that considerably more offenders will be able to take advantage of these units while they are in prison; we are clearly moving in the right direction regarding addiction treatment for prisoners.

I am determined that Corrections will do everything it can to contribute to reducing re-offending.

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ISSN 1178-8453

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