Prison topics page

People in prison are more likely to have used drugs compared with the general population, and they are more likely to have engaged in risky forms of drug use, like injection. Many people in prison have complex health needs; problems related to drug use are more common among people with prison experience than in the general population. Equivalence of care with that provided in the community and continuity of care on admission and release are key principles to guide the provision of health care in prisons.

People who commit criminal offences and enter prison have higher rates of drug use and injecting than the general population. People in prison with drug problems are often repeat offenders, and recidivism is common among high proportion of those in prison. The interlink between prison and drugs is complex. Three groups of people in prison can be identified regarding their relation with drugs: those in prison for drug law offences (17 % of the prison population in Europe, on average), those in prison for crimes indirectly related to their drug use, and those with drug problems entering prison for crimes unrelated to drug use. The complex healthcare needs of individuals need to be assessed on prison entry.

As the average duration of a prison sentence for this group is a few months, people in prison are a dynamic population with regular contacts with the community; this has implications for public health.