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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the entrants to detoxification programmes in prisons in England and Wales in 2001-02, what proportion were completed; what proportion were carried out in designated prison health centres; and what the average duration was. [118561] Paul Goggins: The current practice is to recommend nine to 10 day programmes for the clinical management of opiate with drawal and seven-day programmes in respect of alcohol. All such recommended timescales are kept under review in the light of developments in clinical practice. Information about the proportion of detoxifications started and completed is not available centrally. Between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002, 41,916 drug and alcohol detoxifications were carried out. Unless there are compounding risk factors, it is not generally necessary for the treatment to be carried out in prison health centres. During 2003-04,the Prison Service is establishing new detoxification units at eight establishments with the capacity to undertake over 9,000 treatments a year. The clinical effectiveness of the programmes provided will be evaluated. During 2003-04, the Prison Service is establishing new detoxification units at eight establishments with the capacity to undertake over 9,000 treatments a year. The clinical effectiveness of the programmes provided will be evaluated.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

118561; 407 c872-3W;407 c876-7W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Alcoholic drinks Drugs Medical treatments Prisoners Prisons Misuse Rehabilitation

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk