One in five prisoners is either getting treatment for opioid addiction or is on a waiting list for help. Representing a 39-year-old heroin and cocaine addict who faces a long wait with almost 150 others, solicitor Jack Murphy, said the situation was deeply worrying and could not be allowed to continue.
“Our client’s case demonstrates that addiction care within the Prison Service is at breaking point,’’ he added. “Due to the ever-increasing waiting lists and clear lack of funding, our client’s addiction needs are not being adequately treated.
“This lack of proper and effective addiction treatment on the part of prison healthcare has led to our client becoming suicidal.”
The solicitor said another prisoner had asked to be put on the addiction waiting list, but was told he could not be because “there are far too many on it (and) it is too dangerous to have that many people on the waiting list”.
Mr Murphy said: “Many of our clients within Prison Service have said that they fear being released into the community without addiction care as they fear they could end up dying on the streets, like so many others have tragically done recently due to drugs.
“We will be corresponding with the relevant bodies and requesting that this issue be addressed urgently to prevent any loss of life of the most vulnerable in our prisons”.
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