Guidance for treating opiate-dependent prisoners will improve the balance of support they receive. It aims to ensure that offenders have the best chance of becoming drug free, and encourages them to access the full range of psychosocial, educational and rehabilitation support. 

The guidance (published March 2010) emphasises the fact that prison presents addicts with an opportunity to become abstinent, and requires all offenders receiving a sentence of more than six months to work towards this goal unless there are exceptional circumstances.

It is also clear that treatment for those on shorter sentences should be in line with what's on offer in the community. More than half of all prisoners in England are heroin and crack users, many of whom serve short sentences, or are held on remand, and remain in custody for no longer than three months. These offenders have limited opportunity to benefit from abstinence programmes, and need to be prepared to continue their treatment on release.

The importance of providing psychosocial therapies, along with other rehabilitative and educational opportunities, is highlighted, and achieving this balance has been made a priority as the Integrated Drug Treatment System (IDTS) is rolled out. All clinical treatment under IDTS is supported by psychosocial interventions and there is an emphasis on ensuring that treatment can be continued when the prisoner returns to the community. The guidance aims to reinforce good practice in this area and emphasise the importance of regular reviews, to focus decisions about prison treatment on individuals' needs and to help break the link between drugs and crime.

Read the letter

Read the guidance