80% of prisoners on methadone are being parked and forgotten about

Just 20% of prisoners who are being prescribed methadone are on a reducing dose. This means that 80% of prisoners are being parked on methadone.

Figures revealed by the Scottish Conservatives from Prisoner Survey data show that just 157 of the 777 participating prisoners who were being prescribed methadone are on a reducing dose.

John Lamont MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, says:

"Just last week I revealed a 37% rise in the number of prisoners being prescribed methadone, which some people said was a positive step as it meant they were being taken off heroin. Whilst that may be true, the whole reason we fought for a new national drugs strategy based on recovery was to use methadone as a step towards abstinence.

"These figures show clearly that only 20% of prisoners being prescribed methadone are on a reducing dose, which means that for the vast majority of prisoners on methadone no attempt is being made to get them properly clean. Effectively, they have been parked on methadone and forgotten about. It is clear that the attempts over the last decade to deal with Scotland's problem of drug abuse by using harm reduction methods and an over reliance on methadone have just not worked.

"Scottish Conservatives worked relentlessly to create a new national drugs strategy, based on recovery and leading to abstinence. We also want tougher measures to crack down on drug abuse in our jails.

"All prisoners should be subjected to a drugs test upon their arrival in jail and subject to random drug testing thereafter. This testing must be comprehensive, robust and consistent. We also want drug free wings in every institution where prisoners who want to come off drugs can be removed from the availability and the temptation of drugs.

"The benefits to society will be great if we find the political will to take this task on. Lower re-offending, less crime and a safer prison environment. It will be good for addicts, good for their families and good for society as a whole because so much crime in Scotland is fuelled by drugs. But to start on that journey, the Scottish Government and Scottish Prison Service have to up their game and make sure that everyone entering prison is subjected to an immediate drug test and continually monitored thereafter."

Below is a link to the question John Lamont asked and the response he received

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/default.aspx?pq=S3W-35544

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