Health needs of drug dependent prisoners in four countries (Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland)
ENThe majority of people held in European prisons have severe problems associated with drug use, together with related health and social disadvantages. Those categorised as problematic drug users (PDUs) constitute a substantial proportion of prison populations in Europe. Recent figures indicate that a third to a half of prisoners having illicit drug use experience before imprisonment. Acknowledging the existence of a drug problem within prison walls often remains a taboo for prisoners, staff, management and politicians. Moreover, lack of continuity of care and support throughout the criminal justice system (CJS), from the moment of arrest to release from prison into the community, contributes to failures in reintegration, drives the “revolving door effect”, with drug users routinely caught in the criminal justice system and does not allow for the full implementation of the principle of equivalence of health services in prison comparable to those available in the community. Most of the countries, who joined the European Union (EU) most recently have, to varying degrees, implemented effective treatment programmes and harm reduction projects outside of the prison system. However, effective drug treatment and blood-borne virus (BBV) prevention programmes within the prison walls and follow up services for released inmates with problematic drug use still have, in most New Member States, to be developed. Overall, prison policies and practices, in particular in dealing with drug users and related (infectious) diseases, remain an important EU concern. In few of the New Member States the public health imperative of a healthy prison system receives the political attention it deserves. This research is bringing together countries that reflect (some of the) different legal and penitentiary systems, varying “drug cultures” and levels of HIV/HCV problems among the New Member States.The study aims to find the commonalities and differences that influence the implementation of continuum of care approaches towards a healthy prison system. From that policy perspective four countries were chosen to provide an interesting mix (Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, and Poland). As risks related around drug use is a sensitive topic, we chose methods that reflect the need for anonymity and confidentiality. Focus groups with independent translators, anonymous quantitative methods as well as the views of NGOs might contribute to a complete picture, which will be amended by the perceptions and experiences of prison staff of all levels, representatives of the Prison Administration and the Ministry of Justice. The research project is using a triangulage methodology consisting of quantitative and qualitative instruments plus an extensive literature review. Altogether 593 people were interviewed: 490 prisoners in the quantitative survey, 66 participants in prisoner focus groups, 27 experts working in prison and in NGOs (e. g. prison directors, doctors, nurses, social worker) and 10 experts from the Ministries of Justice and/or Prison Administration. All data are taken together in order to better understand health care structures in the specific countries and prisons, to be able to assess gaps and needs, with the final goal to develop baselines for further health care development. Measures to control drug use are mainly oriented towards supply reduction (controlling drug smuggling, drug testing) and to a lesser extent towards demand reduction. However, the acquisition of drugs in prison is perceived mainly as easy or very easy by 39.5 % of the respondents and 60.5 % said it‟s either very or rather difficult. The health status of prisoners is very heterogenous throughout the four countries studied.The spread of blood-bourne virus (BBV) infections varies greatly between countries: 18.7 % of the whole sample of 490 inmates in the four countries report a HIV infection and 32.2 % a HCV infection. The study shows that drug use takes place inside prisons although to a lesser degree than outside. The drug use experiences both inside and outside prison vary between the four countries substantially. Opiate use in prison is reported by 25 % in Lithuania, 15 % in Estonia and to a lesser degree in Hungary and Poland. The high prevalence of BBV infections in most of the prisons compared to community levels is in itself a massive threat for prison health care. On top of that risk behaviour, especially needle sharing, has been reported in many interviews. If heroin or home-made opioids etc. are used, the drugs are mainly taken intravenously. In several countries visited a discrepancy could be observed in the perceptions of prison health care by prisoners and officials. Whereas 20.6 % of prisoners are rating the quality of health care services as rather good or very good, 79.3 % as rather bad or very bad, the professionals (doctors, nurses) often are assessing the quality of prison health care as partly higher than in the community, or as sufficient to meet the health care needs of prisoners. The treatment quality stated by the inmates does not differ that much between countries. In Hungary almost one third of inmates stated the treatment quality to be very good or rather good, while in the other countries it is less than a fifth. Apart from abstinence-oriented approaches it is important for the countries to develop and/or adapt prison-based harm reduction activities to meet the needs of drug users and staff in prisons and improve access to services. Furthermore programmes against physical, sexual, and psychological violence have to be developed in order to reduce health risks for all prisoners. [...].
