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Don’t blame legal highs for prisoners’ problems. Blame prisons Don’t blame legal highs for prisoners’ problems. Blame prisons
(6 months later)
David Cameron has described the state of our prisons as “scandalous”, and given recent reports, you would be forgiven for believing that “new psychoactive substances” – NPS, or legal highs – are a major factor. The seemingly endless series of alarming reports from Nick Hardwick, the former chief inspector of prisons, has provided a catalogue of violence and medical emergencies associated with the use of NPS. The reality, however, is more complicated.David Cameron has described the state of our prisons as “scandalous”, and given recent reports, you would be forgiven for believing that “new psychoactive substances” – NPS, or legal highs – are a major factor. The seemingly endless series of alarming reports from Nick Hardwick, the former chief inspector of prisons, has provided a catalogue of violence and medical emergencies associated with the use of NPS. The reality, however, is more complicated.
Related: Prisoners' use of legal highs 'puts severe strain on ambulance services'
For a start, we don’t really know what drugs prisoners take: partly because we have never bothered to find out properly, and partly because prisoners themselves haven’t a clue what they are acquiring through an illicit drug market – a handful of pills wrapped in clingfilm passed covertly around the wing does not come with an explanatory leaflet.For a start, we don’t really know what drugs prisoners take: partly because we have never bothered to find out properly, and partly because prisoners themselves haven’t a clue what they are acquiring through an illicit drug market – a handful of pills wrapped in clingfilm passed covertly around the wing does not come with an explanatory leaflet.
The term NPS covers a plethora of complex chemical substances constantly being modified and developed. The highly regarded European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction stated that there were 280 potentially harmful legal highs produced in 2012 in Europe alone. “Spice, the one most often highlighted, has been around for years, but as with all illegal drugs, including heroin and cocaine, its strength and what it is cut with can vary. Prisons don’t routinely test the chemical composition of what they find and hospitals tend not to carry out full toxicology reports on sick and violent prisoners. We simply have no real idea what prisoners are taking.The term NPS covers a plethora of complex chemical substances constantly being modified and developed. The highly regarded European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction stated that there were 280 potentially harmful legal highs produced in 2012 in Europe alone. “Spice, the one most often highlighted, has been around for years, but as with all illegal drugs, including heroin and cocaine, its strength and what it is cut with can vary. Prisons don’t routinely test the chemical composition of what they find and hospitals tend not to carry out full toxicology reports on sick and violent prisoners. We simply have no real idea what prisoners are taking.
There is undoubtedly a drug issue in prison, although not according to the National Offender Management Service which regularly produces the results of its random mandatory drug testing programme (MDT) as testament to the success of its drug strategy. The rate of positive tests has remained stable at around 7% for many years, below the target of 10%. But MDT is of little use except to those who need convenient statistics. Pilot schemes to include NPS in the programme will be equally ineffective.There is undoubtedly a drug issue in prison, although not according to the National Offender Management Service which regularly produces the results of its random mandatory drug testing programme (MDT) as testament to the success of its drug strategy. The rate of positive tests has remained stable at around 7% for many years, below the target of 10%. But MDT is of little use except to those who need convenient statistics. Pilot schemes to include NPS in the programme will be equally ineffective.
Related: Cameron and Gove are talking big on prison reform. But can they deliver? | Gary Copson
Drugs are not so much the cause of the problems in our prison system as the consequence of a much wider malaise. A true analysis becomes subsumed under the tired old supply-reduction strategy. Perimeter security, shooting down drones and the usual begrudging nod to the inconvenient truth that is staff corruption fulfil the “something must be done” clamour. A real supply strategy would properly measure how drugs (and mobile phones) get into prisons. For now, a small clingfilm wrap emanating from a prisoner’s orifice is a “find”. So too is a kilo of cannabis strapped to the legs of a prison officer.Drugs are not so much the cause of the problems in our prison system as the consequence of a much wider malaise. A true analysis becomes subsumed under the tired old supply-reduction strategy. Perimeter security, shooting down drones and the usual begrudging nod to the inconvenient truth that is staff corruption fulfil the “something must be done” clamour. A real supply strategy would properly measure how drugs (and mobile phones) get into prisons. For now, a small clingfilm wrap emanating from a prisoner’s orifice is a “find”. So too is a kilo of cannabis strapped to the legs of a prison officer.
But it is the demand side of the drug problem that we discuss least. A lot of money has been spent in prisons on drug treatment, and there are some very skilled people working day to day in difficult circumstances. The problem with those prisoners taking NPS is getting them into treatment, primarily because they don’t see themselves as having a problem. Mixed messages from society at large about legality and harm compound the problem. But getting people into treatment and/or away from harmful lifestyles is a responsibility of the prison system. Yes, people need to take personal responsibility but that is precisely what prison takes away, and in the current crisis increasingly so. Banged up 23 hours a day in a large toilet with someone you have never met before – who wouldn’t want a mind-altering substance? Meaningful work, education and training with a purpose all help. So too do positive interactions with staff, and modern-day access to family and friends outside. All these tactics can aid treatment.But it is the demand side of the drug problem that we discuss least. A lot of money has been spent in prisons on drug treatment, and there are some very skilled people working day to day in difficult circumstances. The problem with those prisoners taking NPS is getting them into treatment, primarily because they don’t see themselves as having a problem. Mixed messages from society at large about legality and harm compound the problem. But getting people into treatment and/or away from harmful lifestyles is a responsibility of the prison system. Yes, people need to take personal responsibility but that is precisely what prison takes away, and in the current crisis increasingly so. Banged up 23 hours a day in a large toilet with someone you have never met before – who wouldn’t want a mind-altering substance? Meaningful work, education and training with a purpose all help. So too do positive interactions with staff, and modern-day access to family and friends outside. All these tactics can aid treatment.
Purposeful and constructive incarceration is not a holy grail, it is a responsibility the state takes on when it deprives people of their liberty. It has a duty to the communities that all but a handful of prisoners will return to. Bringing it about is not easy, but as Cameron said in his recent speech: we need to put professionals in the lead and to remove the bureaucratic micromanagement that disempowers them. This means prison governors taking responsibility for the totality of what goes on in their prisons: being passionate not just about drug treatment, but about all prison activities, and ensuring staff and specialists work together and not simply within the confines of central contracts.Purposeful and constructive incarceration is not a holy grail, it is a responsibility the state takes on when it deprives people of their liberty. It has a duty to the communities that all but a handful of prisoners will return to. Bringing it about is not easy, but as Cameron said in his recent speech: we need to put professionals in the lead and to remove the bureaucratic micromanagement that disempowers them. This means prison governors taking responsibility for the totality of what goes on in their prisons: being passionate not just about drug treatment, but about all prison activities, and ensuring staff and specialists work together and not simply within the confines of central contracts.
We should be optimistic about Michael Gove’s new “reform prisons” where governors will have true autonomy and accountability. They are a paradigm shift in prison management and a challenge to the “blob” – the intransigent civil servants hoping it will all go away. Legal highs should not distract from the wider challenge. The only way to stop drugs coming into prison is for prisoners not to want them. Bringing that about would be true prison reform.We should be optimistic about Michael Gove’s new “reform prisons” where governors will have true autonomy and accountability. They are a paradigm shift in prison management and a challenge to the “blob” – the intransigent civil servants hoping it will all go away. Legal highs should not distract from the wider challenge. The only way to stop drugs coming into prison is for prisoners not to want them. Bringing that about would be true prison reform.