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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: The Northern Ireland Prison Service is conducting a review of drug testing within prisons in Northern Ireland. As part of this review they would like to obtain information on what drugs are abused in other jurisdictions, what measures other jurisdictions have in place for the detection of drugs including the use of technology and the lessons learned and also what strategies are in place to reduce supply and demand of drugs.
COCAINE-MORPHINE-CANNABIS-SYNTHETIC
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?we conduct regular Drug testing up to 250 per month
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?We have body scanners which also scans any items coming into the CSA we are also hoping to purchase a machine which picks up many different varieties.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?We find restriction and more control helpful
In 2018, in Slovak prisons there were 271 positive seizures (total number of controlled persons is in point 2). In recent years, the most frequently misused substances have been mostly medicines from the group of benzodiazepines (35% of positive seizures in 2018), followed by cannabis substances (THC content) (20% of positive seizures in 2018), then drugs with opiates content (14% of positive seizures in 2018) and amphetamines (14% of positive seizures in 2018). Seizures of barbiturates, cocaine and other substances are rare. Now, we are not able to seize the modern synthetic cannabinoids because no detection tests are available on the market.
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?In compliance with the National Drugs Strategy of the Slovak Republic for 2013 – 2020 (available at https://www.health.gov.sk/?protidrogova-politika) it is possible to divide the activities realized in the area of drug policy in relation to inmates into two groups: 1. Prevention of drug penetration to prisons (drug supply reduction) – among these measures there are mainly searches for detection of drugs in parcels, letters, motor vehicles, luggage and clothes of inmates and prison visitor as well as searching drugs in prison premises (cells, rooms, workshops, visiting rooms) and in workshops outside prisons. Service dogs with categories of special K9 for searching narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are used. 2. Work with addicted inmates (drug supply reduction) – system of work with addicted inmates is composed of several progressive components: a) entry and subsequent drug screening – realized by means of screening testing plates in form of random selection upon entry of inmates or in case of suspicion of drug use during pre-trial detention and prison sentence execution (in 2018, 3105 inmates were tested); b) entry psychological examination of convicts – detection of addiction or risk rate of convicts from the viewpoint of development of addiction (personal predispositions, occurrence of addiction in family) is realized within the psycho-diagnostic screening of personality of all convicts (in 2018, 5344 psycho-diagnostic screenings were realized upon entry to prison sentence execution); c) protective treatment – addiction protective treatment, alcohol protective treatment, protective treatment of pathological gambling or their combination imposed by court, either in in-patient or outpatient form (in 2018, 566 convicts took a protective treatment imposed by the court); d) voluntary alcohol and drug treatment for juvenile convicts – implemented in Juveniles Prison Sučany (in 2018, 22 juvenile convicts were treated voluntarily).
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?Some medicines (with benzodiazepines, barbiturates and opiates content) are detected by means of detection urine or saliva tests, if necessary, subsequent drug blood screening or screening of human body fluids are done. Other medicines can be targeted detected only by means of drug blood screening. However, this is costly and time consuming and done only in extraordinary chosen cases due to forensic reasons.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?Cannabis, amfetamin and Benzodiazepines. Even Tramadol has also increased slightly.
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?Yes, we have a Safety Handbook which acts as a regulation and strategy. These regulation isn´t available to anyone, just inside our authority. Its a regulation and strategy for our visitations, blood-and urin samples, clear signs of drugabuse and so on.
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?Generally we dont use technology in our visitation activity, just a few so called "sniffers" simular to the devices which is common at Airports. There is a joint work of the authorities at the Swedish standardization institute where one standardizes so called rapid tests in urin and saliva. The standarization contains requirements regarding function as well as reliability. The most common way just now is to send the samples to a laboratory for analysis.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?In the visitation activity the "sniffers" are sensitive and not always reliable. In our work with drugsamples you can note that there are also shortcomings in terms of reliability. The Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm has done a scientific study of rapid drug tests on the market and the solution of the study is that one of twelve rapid tests shows incorrect results. The result must be weighed against costs and legal certainty when using these Products. The Swedish correctional service are investigating this matters right now.
Based on statistics from the 2018, the most common drugs in Latvian prisons are: - Buprenorphine containing substance - Buprenorphine containing tablets - Amphetamine - Amphetamine/methamphetamine containing substance - Hashish - Clonazepam containing mixture of substances - Clonazepam containing tablets - Tramadol containing mixture of substances - Diazepam containing tablets - Marijuana (dried) - Methamphetamine - Methamphetamine containing mixture of substances.
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?The Latvian prison administration does not use a specific drug strategy to reduce supply and demand.
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?The Latvian Prison Administration does not use technological equipment for drug detection. Currently, in one of the largest prisons in Latvia there are two officers (cynologists) who, in the performance of their duties, use service dogs specializing in searching for narcotic and psychotropic substances. It makes drug searches much easier, because in Latvian prisons it mostly is based on the professionalism of officials and employees.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?Due to the fact that the Latvian Prison Administration does not use technologies to search for drugs, we cannot share our experience and observations in relation to the technology used.
Cannabis, heroin, subutex, benzodiazapam, cocaine, new psychoactive substances
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?Core Principles in the Management of Substance Misuse in Custody 1. SPS will ensure that a comprehensive range of security measures are in place to reduce the availability and supply of illegal substances and associated paraphernalia entering Scotland's prisons by: 1.1 working with other Law Enforcement Agencies to target any individual introducing illegal substances and disrupt drug trafficking routes into prisons; 1.2 maintaining and developing the use of technology that will assist establishments in preventing the introduction of controlled drugs; 1.3 engaging in intelligence led searches of cells, prisoners, property and visitors; 1.4 raising intelligence awareness amongst staff and service providers where relevant, and others who work in the prison or with prisoners, to be competent to report all drug related incidents; and 1.5 maximising and targeting the use of the Tactical Dog Operations Unit as both a prevention and enforcement strategy. 2. SPS will ensure that recovery is the explicit aim of all services providing treatment and rehabilitation for prisoners with drug and alcohol problems by: 2.1 providing equity of access to treatment and rehabilitation services, which are broadly equivalent to those available in the community; 2.2 adopting an evidence-based approach to planning, designing and delivery of services to promote recovery; 2.3 continuing to develop systems to enable effective communication and information sharing protocols, ensuring prisoner consent; 2.4 ensuring prisoner needs are central to the care planning process and are regularly reviewed to reflect progress made towards recovery; 2.5 encouraging family involvement in the care planning and case conference decision-making process, where appropriate; and 2.6 liaising with relevant organisations to ensure that drug-related deaths are reduced following release from prison. 3. SPS will ensure a range of appropriate treatment and rehabilitation services will be available since individual prisoners will require different routes to recovery by: 3.1 offering prisoners an assessment in order that appropriate services can be provided to meet their identified needs, including the specific needs of vulnerable prisoners, linking with wider SPS strategies relating to women, young people and high risk offenders; 3.2 providing clinical treatment and care in accordance with SPS Health Care Standards; 3.3 providing prisoners with information at induction on how to access addiction services whilst in prison and also on release; 3.4 adopting a multi-disciplinary approach in the provision of substance misuse services with access to wraparound care; 3.5 providing access to addiction related in-reach services and peer led organisations; 3.6 delivering education and awareness, approved activities and prisoner programmes, linking with the SPS Intervention Strategy; 3.7 including prisoners in public awareness campaigns where appropriate; and 3.8 providing a safe and supportive environment to promote recovery where services can be concentrated and delivered to motivated prisoners; for example, an Addiction Support Area may be considered. 4. SPS will ensure treatment services will integrate effectively with a wider range of prison based services to address fully the complex needs of prisoners with problematic drug and alcohol use by: 4.1 offering prisoners an integrated package of care based on their individual assessed need; 4.2 encouraging prisoners to participate in the Integrated Case Management process to address their problematic drug and alcohol use and offending behaviour issues; 4.3 adopting the SPS Integrated Addictions Process as the model of care by joining up medical treatment with addiction services; whilst linking individuals to wider wraparound support and vital throughcare services to assist the recovery process and successful community integration; 4.4 making appropriate referrals to relevant child protection agencies; 4.5 ensuring a consistent approach to service delivery and the provision of continuity of care across the prison estate; 4.6 continuing to work with NHS Boards, Local Authorities and Throughcare Addiction Services to achieve closer integration and a seamless transition from prison to the community; and 4.7 optimising links with criminal justice partners, including Community Justice Authorities, Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships (ADPs), and the National Support function, to ensure that prisoners' needs are recognised and addressed in the community. 5. SPS will ensure that addiction testing will be deployed with clearly defined purposes to support clinical prescribing, risk management, prisoner progression, and to identify the prevalence of illegal drug use by: 5.1 health management testing for the purpose of clinical treatment in accordance with Health Care Standards; 5.2 prisoner management voluntary testing to support prisoner progression and determine the levels of prevalence of illegal drugs; and 5.3 prisoner management mandatory testing for the purpose of risk assessment and suspicion, as defined by Section 107 of the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2006 and associated legislation. 6. SPS will ensure that a range of services and support will be provided to encourage prisoners to reduce or cease smoking by: 6.1 providing opportunistic brief advice to all prisoners who smoke; 6.2 providing prisoners aged 16 to 18 years old, who cannot purchase tobacco in custody, with Nicotine Replacement Therapy free on prescription; 6.3 providing support services to prisoners aged 16 to 18 years who wish to stop smoking, irrespective of sentence length; and 6.4 providing specialist 'Stop Smoking' services, including Groupwork and Nicotine Replacement Therapy, to eligible prisoners. 7. SPS will ensure that a range of Blood Borne Virus prevention, treatment, care and support services will be available by: 7.1 offering immunisation against Hepatitis A and B to all prisoners on admission and ensuring any course of treatment will continue throughout their sentence and after release; 7.2 providing prisoners with information at induction on how to access blood borne virus services and highlight associated risk behaviours; 7.3 providing blood borne virus services in accordance with Health Care Standards and the National Memorandum of Understanding/Service Level Agreements between SPS and NHS Boards; and 7.4 offering a range of harm reduction measures to reduce the transmission of blood borne viruses. 8. SPS will ensure that access to information will take into consideration the diversity of prisoners with substance misuse problems, including low ability in reading and comprehension by: 8.1 providing access to information in different languages for prisoners who either do not use English as a first language or have difficulty understanding written English, for example, Induction, education and awareness; 8.2 supporting prisoners with learning difficulties and disabilities which prevents them from understanding verbal or written information; and 8.3 appropriately managing cases with recognised and specific requirements regarding individual faith and religious observance, within the context of security and treatment. 9. SPS will ensure that the principles of recovery will be reflected in training for staff and service providers to support the continuous development of a competent, confident, valued and responsive workforce by: 9.1 continuing to develop a motivated and flexible workforce to respond confidently to the concept of recovery in the delivery of services; 9.2 participating in effective, high quality national addictions training to enable all staff and service providers to carry out their role; 9.3 encouraging service providers to develop ways of multi-agency working, which maximises awareness of each other's roles and responsibilities to support referrals and information exchange; 9.4 identifying skills gaps through regular training needs analysis, addressed through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and Personal Learning and Development Plans; and 9.5 facilitating evaluation and research that supports the aim of the strategy.
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?See section 1 of the above answer. BOSS chairs are in use as are body scanners in some establishments. Searching procedures apply - Searching - Reception & Prisoner Entry to and Exiting from Establishment a All prisoners entering or leaving the prison are subject to scanning by the BOSS chair. b Full body searches take place on all admissions and liberations. c Full body searches take place prior to all external escorts and upon return. d Full body searches take place of prisoners on non-escorted absences at a ratio of 1:5. e Prisoners subject to Special Security Measures will be searched in accordance with the measures in force at the time. f Full body searches take place after visits at a ratio of 1:5 with all other prisoners given a rub-down search, but this will not apply to under 18's. Searching - Cell & Area Searching a All cells are searched 3 times per year, once in every 4 month period, and recorded on PR2. b Cell searches for prisoners subject to Special Security Measures are carried out at least once a week and recorded on PR2. c Searches of all areas in the establishment are carried out a minimum of twice per year and recorded. d All establishments will deploy mobile phone detection equipment during patrol periods, and in accordance with the timeframes identified by Operations Directorate.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?A short review of body scanners suggested: Relying on the body scanner technology as a sole means of detecting prohibited items is not recommended – but in conjunction with other technology also being used, such as the Cellsense and Boss Chairs, it would seem reasonable to continue to use body scanners as one of a series of mechanisms to detect prohibited items.
Benzodiazepines, opiats, chemical substances
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?Each prison drafts its own annual plan where measures for reducing supply and demand are included
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?We are using dogs for detection of drugs and substances. Although we regularly test technical devices for detection of drugs and substances, however we haven’t come across any device that would help to achieve the best results in the prison settings
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?The technical devices we tested failed to detect drugs and substances in prisons
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Out of 858 urine drug screen tests conducted in prison since January 2019, 134 detected THC. Only four tests detected cocaine.
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?Urine drug screen tests are made regularly and the inmates who are positive to any kind of drugs get a disciplinary sanction and the cells are scanned (sometimes also with dogs) to check if there are any hidden drugs in the cells. To prevent the entry of more drugs in prison, sometimes detection dogs from the Police control the visitors. Prison guards supervise the visits. If there is a doubt of drug passing during visit, the visit is immediately suspended and the inmate has to undergo a body search. After every visit, every detainee has to undergo a body search systematically to prevent the entry of any substance.
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?Currently we use urine drug screen tests of the brand “Nal von Minden” and to identify the substances we use the “Draeger Drugtest 5000”. In trans-border cooperation with Rhineland-Palatinate, the IonScan 600 (Explosives and Narcotics Trace Detector) will be placed at the disposal of the correctional facility in Schrassig one or two times a month in order to test the device before the final purchase of IonScan 600 by the authorities.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?/
In response to this question it is worth mentioning the “Survey about Health and drug consumption amongst population placed in prison establishments” [Encuesta sobre salud y consumo de drogas en internados en Instituciones penitenciarias (ESDIP)] published in 2016 in the framework of the National Plan on Drug, which is run by the Health and Interior Ministries of the Spanish Government in collaboration with the Generalitat de Catalunya. According to this Survey, the drugs that are mostly consumed are the following: tobacco by 79.4% of the population, cannabis by the 19.4% and tranquillisers without medical prescription by the 6.2%. Drawing from the direct observation by prison professionals, it can be stated that the inmates participating in the Drug Addiction Intervention Program implemented in the Catalan prisons, are mostly consumers of different types of legal and illegal drugs (poly drug use). The target group of this programme are inmates who have been consuming heroin, cocaine and cannabis. There is a more specialised intervention with those with alcohol addiction.
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?The strategy is described in the Framework Programme on Drug Addiction of the prison services in Catalonia, and it foresees measures and interventions at different levels that broadly speaking are structured into two following courses of action: Supply reduction: which encompasses different measures aimed at preventing the smuggling of drugs into prisons on entry. Some of such measures include regular reviews, searches, radiology studies or sanctions amongst others. These measures are always undertaken according to the legal provisions applicable. Demand reduction: includes different types of interventions that can be grouped under two categories: those addressed to reduce the negative consequences of drug misuse (harm reduction programmes) and to those aimed at treatment and rehabilitation (psycho-social programmes). The framework programme is available in Catalan.
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?The main mechanisms used for drug detection are currently radiological exam and urine drug screenings. Radiological exams can be done in order to detect attempts to smuggle drugs into the prison on entry. Such tests can only be performed when authorised by the court. On the other hand, the urine drug screen that serves to detect possible drugs consumption is performed as part of the psycho social programme mentioned above and with the aim of eventually reducing the demand. Such urine drug screenings are sent to external laboratories which will be providing the results.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?Different studies show that there is a decrease in re-offending rates related to drug abuse crime amongst those who have undertaken the psycho-social intervention programme mentioned as part of demand reduction. The mechanisms in place to prevent the smuggling of drugs into prisons on entry such as searches and radiology tests have a significant deterrence effect.
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In the last years, we find that new kinds of drugs appear into prison. We find new psychoactive drugs as Fentanyl, Lyrica, GHB, synthetic cannabinoid, anabolic steroids (see attached graph)
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?The strategy for reducing supply and demand is focused on 4 topics: prevention/harm reduction/therapy/control. Prevention: all types of preventive actions given for inmates and for staffmembers, medical services, … Harm reduction: medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for people who are addicted to opioids such as heroin. The most common drugs used in MAT are methadone and suboxone. Threatment: 2 drugfree wings in the prisons of Bruges and Hasselt, 1 therapeutic-like program in Ruiselede, behavioral therapeutic intervention threatment in the prisons of Ghent and Oudenaarde, groups on substanceabuse in Hoogstraten and Wortel Control: control of cells, surveillance of inmates with bodycheck if motivated by prison governor, control with dogs on inmates and on visitors, no applications of mobile narcotics detection.
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?Only the drugfree wings and the therapeutic-like program use mandatory drugtesting and alcoholtesting. We don’t use other technology.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?Concerning the drugtesting: the Belgian law doesn’t admit the mandatory drugtesting for all the inmates. Only in therapeutic programs is the use of testing admitted, and only for therapeutic interventions. A clear legal framework for drugtesting is necessary. The lack of other technology on the field of drugdetection makes it difficult to keep the prison drugfree.
Attachments:
Most commonly used drugs are amphetamine, Subutetex (brand name for buprenorphine), cannabis and to some extent designer drugs.
Do you have a prisons drug strategy for reducing supply and demand?If yes, is it possible to have a copy of the strategy/strategies?We do not have a specific prisons drug strategy.
What technology is currently used for drug detection? What new approaches are being considered for detecting drugs (if this varies by prison category please explain)?Prisons use quick saliva and urine drug test. The test can also be sent to laboratory for verification. All positive test are sent to laboratory. Quick urine tests are most common and about 30 000 of them are done yearly.
What lessons have been learned/evaluation undertaken in relation to the technology used - is it possible to have access to the findings?-
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