Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour) on Monday, 13 February 2006.

Prisoners: Mental Illness and Substance Misuse

Question: What is their estimate of the number of prisoners in England and Wales with a history of substance misuse and the number of these who also have some form of mental illness; and what staff and specialist facilities they have in prisons to deal with a combination of these conditions.

Answer: Based on epidemiological studies around 39,000 prisoners with a serious drug problem are present in custody at any one time. Among prisoners assessed as drug dependent, the proportion assessed as having two or more mental disorders was 79 per cent. for male remand and 77 per cent. for male sentenced prisoners, and 83 per cent. for female remand and 75 per cent. for female sentenced prisoners. A comprehensive treatment framework is available for drug-misusers in prison. In addition there are currently 102 prisons with mental health in-reach teams. During this year all prisons should have access to mental health in-reach staff.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 678 c136WA; 3617
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Drugs Mental illness Prisoners Misuse Mental health services Rehabilitation
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk