Study on the prevalence of drug use, including intravenous drug use, and blood-borne viruses among the Irish prisoner population

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Study on the prevalence of drug use, including intravenous drug use, and blood-borne viruses among the Irish prisoner population

15 April 2014

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD)* was established in July 2000 to advise the Government in relation to the prevalence, prevention, treatment/rehabilitation and consequences of problem drug use in Ireland, based on the analysis of research findings and information. The Committee oversees the delivery of a work programme on the extent, nature, causes and effects of drug use in Ireland.

A Steering Group, set up under the auspices of the former National Drug Strategy Team, carried out an assessment of the need for prison-based needle exchange in Ireland in 2009. The primary conclusions were that prison needle-exchange constitutes a viable, effective means of addressing the drug problem and associated health risks within Irish prisons. However, it was acknowledged that data measuring the prevalence of drug use, including intravenous drug use, among the prison population is either dated or based on a proxy approach. The Steering Group therefore recommended that a study should be carried out to measure the extent of drug use, including intravenous drug use, and the prevalence of blood-borne viruses among the prisoner population before consideration is given to introducing needle exchange into a prison setting.

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of drug use, including intravenous drug use, among the prisoner population in Ireland in order to determine the need for drug treatment and harm reduction (including needle exchange) services in Irish prisons.

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