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Written question asked by Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 11 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 May 2003. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Thursday, 1 May 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 17th March 2003, 401 c585W, on drugs in prisons, how many prisoners underwent detoxification in the last year; what medication is used to aid detoxification; what guidance is made available to local prisons in relation to the detoxification of prisoners; and if he will place a copy of the guidance in the Library. - Including figures and ref to Prison Service Order 3550. (DEP 03/1121).
Answer

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 585W, on drugs in prisons, how many prisoners underwent detoxification in the last year; what medication is used to aid detoxification; what guidance is made available to local prisons in relation to the detoxification of prisoners; and if he will place a copy of the guidance in the Library. [109578] Hilary Benn: Prison Service establishments reported that 41,916 drug and alcohol detoxifications were carried out between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002. Prison Service Order 3550, issued on 20 December 2000, introduced a new Prison Service Standard for Clinical Services for Substance Misusers. This concerns the effective clinical management of the substance misuse treatment service provided by staff working in prisons. It is designed to ensure that good quality clinical substance misuse services are available in all local prisons and remand centres to a level that is at least comparable with those in the community. The standard requires, among other things, all prisons which receive prisoners from court to have detoxification guidelines in place for at least one of Methadone, Lofexidine, and Dihydrocodeine. It also stipulates that, as new evidence becomes available on the chemical management of detoxification or abstinence, establishments should develop further treatment guidelines which are in line with those available in the national health service (NHS). My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health (Jacqui Smith) has already agreed to place a copy of the standard in the Library in response to a request from the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Marsden).

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
109578; 404 c527-8W
Session
2002-03
Subjects
Codes of practice Alcoholic drinks Drugs Medical treatments Prisoners Prisons Misuse Rehabilitation
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk