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Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
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Introduction: Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is seeking to establish whether other prison administrations in Europe have identified misuse of the drug ‘fentanyl’ – an opioid pain medication, similar to morphine. HMPPS is interested to learn about experience of misuse of medical fentanyl as well as synthetic fentanyl within prisons. The purpose of this enquiry is to inform our learning on likely levels of harm and potential ways to mitigate risk.
No - in one case a substance was has been sent to a laboratory for examination
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?Fentanyl isn´t a problem yet, and methods for detection has not yet been decided. Fentanyl is considered to be so dangerous, that staff is advised not to handle it.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?No
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?In addition to a criminal case inmates will be sanctioned and visitors will be excluded for a period - in case of very close family ties supervised visits can be allowed.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?Staff is advised to be aware of all kinds of abuse and it is discussed continuously, both when a person gets imprisoned and regularly when serving the sentence
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?No
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.SPS does not collate official statistics on fentanyl use.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?In prison halls, cell searches can be conducted at random or on suspicion of possession of illicit substances. In the visits area, sniffer dogs can be deployed to detect the possession of illegal drugs and banned substances. For Addiction Prevalence Testing, establishments request a sample from all direct admissions from court and all liberations in November of each year. This system of sampling results in 5% of the annual admissions and liberations being tested, allowing for anticipated compliance rates. The overall aim of APT is to demonstrate a reduction in drug misuse between the samples of admissions against the sample of liberations averaged out over the November tests. For the purpose of consistency, the testing methodology is ‘on site, point of contact screening using urine dip test cartridges’ and the participation of selected prisoners is compulsory. Although tests results are anonymous and therefore do not incur disciplinary reports, a refusal to test represents a breach of discipline and is dealt with accordingly.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?Not available.
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?The importation of drugs into prisons can carry a custodial sentence depending on the nature and severity of the infraction.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?SPS Governors and Managers Advice (GMA) 079A- 14 outlines the response. The Policy & Guidance for the Management of an Offender at Risk due to any Substance has been developed in consultation with NHS Health Boards, SPS Legal Services, SPS Operations Directorate, GICs, Deputy Governors and the Trade Union Side, and has been endorsed by the National Prisoner Healthcare Network (NPHN). The purpose of the Policy and Guidance is to provide assurance that offenders are being appropriately managed and receiving an appropriate level of care to ensure preservation of life, and is implemented in all cases where an offender in a Scottish prison is suspected of being at risk due to any substance. • Upon identifying an offender whois suspected of being at risk due to a substance (due to intelligence or presentation), the member of staff should complete the Observation Referral and notify Healthcare staff, provide the offender’s details (name, number, location, date) and describe how the offender is presenting. • Request that Healthcare staff attend the scene immediately to assess the offender or escort the offender to the Health Centre. • Healthcare staff will undertake an assessment and if appropriate undertake a clinical test in an attempt to establish the substance taken. • Healthcare staff will provide an appropriate Care Plan which should include: - how often the observations are to carried out and what form of observation e.g. verbal or visual; - how long the observations are to be carried out, and - when the offender will be reviewed by Healthcare staff. • A Multi-Disciplinary Case Conference should be arranged by the Residential First Line Manager (FLM) with health representation to discuss and agree future management of the offender. • If the offender presents as a risk due to internally concealing a substance then the Hall FLM will decide on the location such as an observation cell or Separation and Reintegration Unit (SRU) and consider Rule 95. • An intelligence based 5x5x5 Incident Report should be submitted to the Intelligence Management Unit (IMU) and a completed Reasonable Suspicion drug test form submitted to the Drug Testing Co-ordinator. • The FLM will update the “Prisoner Risks and Conditions” section within the SPS Prisoner Records Database (PR2) by selecting the category ‘Healthcare Marker’ and then the risk and condition titled ‘at risk due to any substance’. • If the offender’s condition deteriorates SPS staff contact Health Centre staff immediately. • A completed narrative of events in writing will be made available at handover for the oncoming shift. • If the offender is assessed by Healthcare staff as requiring to be transferred to hospital and they refuse then NHS staff should complete a treatment refusal form. If the offender refuses to sign, it should be signed and witnessed by 2 NHS staff.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?SPS GMA 036-16 notice advises that the term “legal highs” to describe new psychoactive substances is inaccurate and should not be used. Staff are required to challenge use of the term by those in custody and ensure they are aware of the amended legal status of these substances. A Prisoner Notice is displayed: PRISONER NOTICE PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES ARE PROHIBITED The Law The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 came into force in May 2016 making it an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, import or export psychoactive substances with sentences of up to 7 years. It is also against the law to possess a psychoactive substance in a prison and this could result in a 2 year sentence and/or a fine. Your Safety and Wellbeing New psychoactive substances (NPS) include different drugs with a wide range of effects. The contents and strength can change and the immediate effects can vary. Many NPS are addictive and have a range of side effects. If you need help or advice regarding NPS or any other drug please contact a member of the NHS team within the prison. The term ‘legal highs’ NPS were previously called ‘legal highs’ but as they are all now illegal this term is misleading. Just because the term ‘legal’ is used it doesn't mean that it's legal or safe. Prisoners are encouraged to no longer use the term ‘legal high’.
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.In the first instance contact: Dr James Carnie, Head of SPS Research – [email protected] – who will direct the enquiry to the appropriate location with the Service.
Explicit abuse of fentanyl has not been identified among the prisoners as of yet. This type of medication is only used within the Central Hospital of the Prison Service. The medicine is dispensed after due precautions have been made, with constant security monitoring.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?Preventing the use of contraband substances is a complex task. Our principal goal is to prevent smuggling such items into the prisons by exploring points of contact with the external world. We have to differentiate between internal (e.g. couriers not employed by the prison, external facilities for inmate labour, reward leaves) and external factors (security monitoring, metal detectors, limiting the number of items that can be taken into the facilities. Service dogs trained for substance detection are a large asset in our endeavour of filtering out said items. Some of the written material (letters, books, stationery) are impregnated with narcotic substances that - when mixed with tobacco products - can induce a strong psychical reaction.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?We have no information regarding the issue.
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?Disciplinary measures are taken against the misdemeaning prisoner by the governor. The disciplinary proceedings are often suspended for the duration of the official investigation by the authorities. If the person who smuggled the substance into the facility can be identified, then he or she will be reported to the authorities. If the identity of the perpetrator is unknown, the reports are against unknown persons.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?We have to separate the prison community into two sub-groups. The first group consists of people who had been subjected to drug before their incarceration. These people keep trying to obtain illegal subtances within prison in order to experience their effects. The members of the other subgroups are pressured by the community to use such drugs. In their case, deprivation experienced within the prison and the lack of external stimuli induces an addiction. The two sub-groups required different methods and individual treatment. In the first case, addiction is a basic biological necessity, while in the second case, treatments have to address the significant milestones and turning points of their lives. Awareness programmes related to drugs and their use have proven to be essential in reducing the exposition of inmates.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?The Hungarian Prison Service organized a Conference on Illegal Substances and Narcotics on 12 October 2017 with the participation of external experts and law enforcement professionals.
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.Persons who attend our prisons and remand prisons use different chemical variants of Fentanyl and the drug has generated several deaths in the population of substance users. However have we luckily not found any positive for the drug in our units. To be proactive we intend to complement the equipment in our emergency boxes with naloxone.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?We send urin samples to the National Forensic laboratory.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?Mainly by internet or illegal import from abroad. Hardly any diversion from patients treated by Fentanyl.
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?Due to the amount they could be convicted for illegal drug use.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?Supervision of the persons in wait for either medical examination or transport to an emergency room.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?No
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.Lars Håkan Nilsson Senior Medical adviser mailadress; se above
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The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has not identified fentanyl misuse by prisoners.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?The Operational Security Group of the IPS employs the services of the Canine Unit (trained dog handlers) in the detection of contraband including drugs. There are no records of the detection of fentanyl.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?Anecdotal reports suggest that synthetic drugs are used in tablet form and administered orally.
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?Incidents of people detected bringing in drugs to the prisons are referred to An Garda Siochana for investigation and prosecution. Selling or otherwise supplying drugs to another is in contravention of The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988 & 1993 under Section 5 Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and contrary to Section 15 and Section 27 (as amended by Section 6 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?The IPS has issued an information booklet on Novel Psychoactive Substances to all prison staff, which provides information about the extent of use, as known, and the properties of the various categories of NPS, as well as advice on the clinical and operational management of those suspected of having used NPS.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?Awareness campaigns are provided across the IPS estate. This includes overdose prevention information and the provision of posters on the dangers of using NPS. A "Staying Alive at Christmas" campaign is also held, to provide information to prisoners, staff and visitors on the dangers of illicit drug use, including NPS.
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.Governor Pat Kavanagh [email protected]
In Slovenian prison system medical practitioners and psychiatrists rarely prescribe fentanyl. It was prescribed sometimes linking to a severe illness as a form of sticking plaster. We did not recognize that fentanyl entered in the prison environment through any other way and we did not identify any misuse.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?Personal examination of inmates, investigation of inmate’s personal belongings, living spaces, received packages…
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?/
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?In Slovenia there is no defined criminal act of bringing drugs in prisons. If there is a case that inmates have any additional benefits in such activities, these benefits could be taken away because they were abused.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?All staff dealing with prisoners who are suspected of being under influence of synthetic drugs is advised to observe those persons, have awareness on his/her behaviour, put him/her in observation room with purpose to evaluate further approach in a matter. If the situation worsens he or she is taken to the hospital.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?In year 2016 there were workshops in all Slovenian prison facilities for inmates and in the same year also lectures relating to synthetic drug use for the staff provided in cooperation with NGO DrogArt.
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.In any case of security matters they could contact person in charge of Security Department Mr Musić ([email protected]) or also person responsible for international cooperation Mr Friskovec ([email protected].
Yes. In Finland we have had a few cases.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?Most of fentanyl band-aids have been sent to the prison by mail. In prison we use drug dogs and x-ray scanners to find fentanyl band-aids.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?Prisoners us fentanyl band-aids or they dissolve fentanyl in water and inject it to the vein.
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?Each case is first investigated by the police. Usually the penalty is a fine, depending on the amount.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?There is no specific advice on how to deal with synthetic drugs. If prison staff notices that a prisoner has intoxicated himself, staff puts the prisoner in an observation cell and calls health care to check on the prisoners condition of health.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?No.
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.Senior Specialist Tommi Saarinen, [email protected] , +358 50 362 7360.
In 2017 we have identified 3 cases of fentanyl misuse by prisoners.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?Rapid urine and salva screening tests are used to detect drug use (including fenthanyl) among prisoners. If the test result proves to be positive, additional narcotic substance examination is made by Estonian Forensic Science Institute. Service dogs are also used for drug detection.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?Regarding those 3 fenthanyl misuse cases, we have not determined the exact ways the drugs were administered. Most of the restricted items, including synthetic drugs, are detected in letters or packages that are sent to the prison via post.
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?The penal code does not have a special paragraph for convicting people who bring drugs into prison, but it is distinguished whether drugs are possessed in prison or in the community. If prisoner possesses drugs, the penalty might be up to 3 years imprisonment. In case of possessing the drugs in community, the amount of the drug also plays role in nature of penalty: in small amount (for toxication less than 10 people) the penalty might be a fine or imprisonment up to 3 years, if the amount of the drug enables toxication of 10 or more people, the penalty is 1 to 10 years imprisonment.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?If prisoner is suspected of drug abuse by a member of the staff, the medical personnel has to be included – it is important for detection the drug and for ensuring the safety of prisoner.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?In prison we raise the awareness of drug use among users – we educate them about illegal drugs, and teach them how to use naloxone in case of emergency. At the releasement of drug-addicted prisoner, he/she is given by prison an emergency-pack with one dosage of naloxone. Prisoners are also educated about the possibilities of rehabilitation in freedom.
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.Linda Paap [email protected]
In 2016 there were two cases, while in 2017 there were 3 cases (narcotic substance or its user in imprisonment place). If the prohibited substance is found upon entry to the imprisonment place, then the substance together with the person who tried to bring it in prison is handed over to the State Police. Latvian Prison Administration do not maintain records of the substances.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?For drug detection we use visual inspection, single use tests, as well as criminal intelligence methods. In addition, we cooperate with law enforcement institutions. Based on the information we currently have, very popular are the patches for cancer patients.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?Fentanyl, as well as other narcotic and psychotropic substances, arrive in imprisonment places by unlawful ways – tossed over fence, hidden by visitors or staff, shot over the fence with a crossbow or a pneumatic device, with the help of drones.
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?The punishment for supplying narcotic substances are set in Chapters XX and XXIII of the Criminal Law (https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=88966).
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?In the basic training programme of the Training Centre there are included topics regarding work with addicted persons, including persons addicted to synthetic narcotic substances. Personnel is trained for work with addicts so that they would be able to recognize the signs of narcotics use and would know how to act is such situations – could anticipate the behaviour of the prisoner.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?In every imprisonment place there are addiction consultants who work with prisoners and introduce them to the opportunity to transfer to Olaine Addiction Centre where a specialised addiction reduction programmes are being implemented. Olaine Addiction Centre personnel also visits prisons and introduce prisoners to the opportunity to participate in the addiction reduction programmes that are implemented in Olaine Addiction Centre. Every imprisonment place also co-operate with NGOs – alcoholics/drug addicts anonymous. The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia is planning to develop an informative brochure/material about narcotic substances and their harmfulness (for police and prison personnel use).
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.Latvian Prison Administration Head of the Security department lieutenant colonel Eduards Nipers, [email protected]
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This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
Fentanyl is only used in the central penitentiary hospital and is administered strictly by the medical personnel of the Ministry of Corrections mostly as a post-surgery painkiller. Therefore, this drug is not accessible for the prison population and there are no recorded cases of misuse by the prisoners.
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected? Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered? What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons? What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl? Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use? HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
We do not have any news about Fentanyl abuse by prisoners
What methods for drug detection do you employ? How has fentanyl been detected?In our prisons, the places where prisoners live and the prisoners themselves are often searched. In some cases, canine units are employed. Psychiatric medicines are always administered in the presence of healthcare staff and of Penitentiary Police staff.
Do you have intelligence on how fentanyl or other synthetic drugs are being administered?Fentanyl is not administered in our prisons. The drug-addicted persons who enter prisons are taken under the responsibility of the Healthcare Service for Addictions (Ser.T.) which, in some cases, can prescribe opiate therapies (methadone or brupenophine). The above-mentioned therapies are always carried out under a strict control.
What are the penalties for people convicted of bringing drugs into prisons?When persons deprived of liberty enter the prison, they are carefully searched. Even afterwards, on the occasion of transfers, hearings, leaves, etc., the search is made upon both the inmates’ entrance and exit. However, in case psychotropic substances are found, the Penitentiary Police makes all the actions required by the Criminal Code and by the Penitentiary Act. As for the sanctions, please find below article 73, paragraph 1 of the Consolidated Act on Drugs (DPR n. 309/1990). Those who grow, produce, manufacture, extract, refine, sell, offer or place on sale, transfer or receive, in any capacity, distribute, trade, transport, supply to other people, send, give or ship in transit, deliver for whatever purpose or illegal possession narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are punished with imprisonment from six to twenty years and with a fine from 26,000 to 260,000 €. Moreover, article 77 of the Regulations of Enforcement of the Penitentiary Act provides for that disciplinary sanctions shall be inflicted on prisoners and internees who are responsible for the introduction, the possession or the trafficking in objects and substances which are not allowed in prisons.
What advice do you give to staff for dealing with prisoners suspected of being under the use of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl?When there is the suspect that one prisoner has taken psychotropic substances, the prison Governor orders the necessary checks, such as – for instance – the high surveillance, inviting the penitentiary police staff to detect possible situations demonstrating that said suspects are true. The prison Governor can order to search both the premises and the person, with the aim to find prohibited substances.
Do you run awareness campaigns/programmes relating to synthetic drug use?The Italian Penitentiary Administration collaborates with the Regional Administrations, the Local Healthcare Agencies, the Associations, the Universities in awareness-raising campaigns for prison population about substance abuse and the relevant risks.
HMPPS security group may wish to engage in future discussion regarding policy and operational procedure. Please can you provide contact details for a relevant member of staff who can be contacted.You can contact our Office for the Coordination of the Relations of Institutional Cooperation at the Department of Penitentiary Administration, that is in charge also of International Relations. e-mail: [email protected]