BMJ 1994;309:674 (10 September)

Letters

Drug users in prison

EDITOR, - Michael Farrell and John Strang ask for all prison medical officers to provide methadone for opiate users during drug withdrawal in prison. On the basis of my 10 years' experience as a prison medical officer, I believe that there are arguments against the more frequent use of methadone in prison.

Firstly, some opiate users do stop using opiates while in prison. If they knew that methadone was easily available they might have no incentive to undergo voluntary drug withdrawal. Secondly, without adequate monitoring many prisoners might take methadone and illicit opiates, thus increasing the problem.

I believe that trials need to be carried out in prisons to see whether the provision of methadone increases or decreases the incidence of use of opiates and the risk of HIV infection.

P Lush 

Bartongate Surgery, Gloucester GL1 4HR.

  1. Farrell M, Strang J. Drug users in prison. BMJ 1994;309:271-2. (23 July.) [Free Full Text]

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Relevant Article

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BMJ 1994 309: 271. [Extract] [Full Text]

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