Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007 - Drug Misuse Information ...

Drug Misuse and Treatment in Scottish Prisons
D3 Drug misuse and treatment in Scottish prisons
The Addictions Testing Measure (ATM) was introduced in 2005, replacing Mandatory Drug Testing
(MDT). Figures relating to ATM are not comparable with those previously published for MDT (see
Background information for further detail).
A new Enhanced Addictions Casework Service (EACS) was introduced in 2005. EACS figures are
not comparable with previously published figures on drug strategy outputs (see Background
Information).
In 2006/07 the average daily population of Scotland’s prisons was 7,183 prisoners. There were
26,195 recorded entries into prison in 2006/07 (Table D3.2).
Key Points 2006/07
Overview
■ Of 1,784 Addictions Testing Measure (ATM) tests carried out in 2006/07 28% were positive for drug use
where the drug misuse occurred while in prison. A further 13% were positive tests where the prisoner
may have misused the drugs for which they tested positive before entry to prison (Table D3.1).
■ 4,546 prisoners, nearly a fifth (17%) of the total recorded entries into prisons (26,195) were offered an
addictions assessment. It should be noted that assessment is only offered to prisoners with a sentence
of 31 days or longer (Table D3.2).
■ 4,051 prisoners undertook an addictions assessment in 2006/07 (Table D3.2).
■ 12,298 one-to-one motivational support sessions were delivered (Table D3.2).
■ 1,228 prisoners across Scotland were being prescribed methadone according to a census taken on the
8th December 2006. This equated to 17% of the prison population on that day. Data from a census
the previous year, taken on 30th December 2005 showed 984 prisoners (16% of the prison population)
were being prescribed methadone on that day while the census taken on 17th December 2004 showed
845 prisoners (14% of the prison population on that day) were being prescribed methadone (Table
D3.3).
■ Thirty percent of respondents to the 2007 Prison Survey reported use of illegal drugs in prison in the
previous month (Table D3.4).
■ Two percent of respondents to the 2007 Prison Survey who provided information on injecting reported
injecting drugs in prison in the previous month (Table D3.4).
■ Of those who had provided information on sharing injecting equipment in the last month (87 prisoners)
80% reported sharing injecting equipment in prison in the previous month (Table D3.4).
Drugs Recorded
■ Opiates were detected in 16% of the 1,784 ATM tests, benzodiazepines in 14% and cannabis in 5%
compared with 13%, 12% and 11% respectively in 2005/06 (data not shown). Buprenorphine,
amphetamines and methadone were detected in 1% of tests (Table D3.1).
■ Of the prisoners reporting use of illegal drugs in prison in the 2007 Prison Survey 70% reported use of
heroin in the previous month, 64% reported use of cannabis and 45% use of benzodiazepines. Over a
quarter (25%) reported using other opiates (other than heroin and methadone) while smaller
proportions reported cocaine (17%), methadone (without prescription) (18%), temazepam (12%),
ecstasy (9%) and amphetamines (5%) (Table D3.4).
Criminal Justice
Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007
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