In 1991, the World Health Organization reported that 23 of 52 prison system surveyed allowed condoms in correctional facilities. In 2016, prison jurisdictions is many countries, still do not allow prison inmates access to condoms despite evidence that HIV prevalence and transmission risks are higher within prisoner populations that general community. Condoms, if used correctly and consistently, cant prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
This course aims to provide inform ation and practical guidance to support the implementation of NSP in prisons and other closed settings. It addresses the issues that have sometimes prevented PNSP from being implemented more widely, such as denial of the use of drugs in prisons, the illegality of drug use in a custodial setting, the illicit status of sharp objects in the possession of prisoners and detainees, and concerns about prisoner and staff security. The course presents models of PNSP that have been tried and evaluated around the world, and provides recommendations and practical advice on advocating, starting, scaling up and monitoring PNSP, based on the lessons learned from these experiences.
The “Harm reduction in prison” course provides a useful introduction to themes related to drug use in the prison setting and risks related to the transmission of infections through drug use and sexual activities, as well as an introduction on risk reduction strategies and services in prison both from the point of view of service description and of specific organisational and methodological aspects related to the provision of these services in a setting such as prisons.
The course in based mostly on the manual "Opioid Substitution Treatment in Custodial Settings - A Practical Guide", by Andrej Kastelic, Jörg Pont, Heino Stöver, published in 2009.
Drug dependence has to be treated as a severe disease and everyone has a part to play to ensure the best treatment for prisoners and also to ensure that drug related harm is kept as low as possible. Applying the recommendations in this guide will contribute to a healthier prison for prisoners with drug dependence with satisfying roles for staff members and a marked reduction in the harm that drug use in prisons can create.
Drug dependence has to be treated as a severe disease and everyone has a part to play to ensure the best treatment for prisoners and also to ensure that drug related harm is kept as low as possible. Applying the recommendations in this guide will contribute to a healthier prison for prisoners with drug dependence with satisfying roles for staff members and a marked reduction in the harm that drug use in prisons can create.
