Drug-free inmates put on methadone

Prisoners who have beaten their drug dependency while incarcerated are being given substances such as methadone – the highly addictive heroin substitute – before their release, according to reports. The process, called "retoxification", is allegedly designed to boost the tolerance of former addicts who are deemed likely to start using drugs on their release, to minimise the risk of them taking an overdose.

But critics of the treatment have accused prison doctors, acting under Department of Health guidelines, of "state-sponsored" drug dealing and "giving up on tackling" the problem. Kathy Gyngell, of the Centre for Policy Studies, said: "It gives the impression the Government is giving up on tackling drug addiction. This doesn't get people off drugs – but captures them in the grip of methadone instead."



It is reported that the process has been ongoing in English prisons for the last five years and that more than 460 prisoners have undergone retoxification. It was already known to be in operation in Scotland.

Senior police officers were said to be furious at the news, with one saying: "We have enough difficulties coping with drug-fuelled crime without ministers sanctioning this. It's one of the craziest ideas from any government." It is claimed that retoxification is used at 33 prisons in England, and can be offered to former addicts even if the length of their sentences mean they have been free of drugs for some time.