Limited drug harm reduction
The 10-Year Drugs Strategy's insufficient range of harm reduction approaches, with an over-emphasis on abstinence-based recovery.
81 items
7 sources
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Limited drug harm reduction has been flagged across 7 independent accountability sources:
29 PFD reports
30 committee recs
10 PPO recs
2 IOPC recs
8 IMB recs
1 detention investigation rec
1 PHSO decision
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
PFD Reports (29)
Christopher Scott
Concerns: The 'legal high' AMT is readily available for purchase despite clear evidence of its deadly effects, raising concerns about its unregulated status and accessibility to the public.
Overdue
Damion Stanley Joseph Henson
Concerns: A homeless unit, housing drug users, lacked 24-hour supervision, allowing unauthorized individuals to enter out of hours, thereby increasing risks in a facility not designed for drug rehabilitation.
Overdue
Neil Richard Clark
Concerns: A patient who had attempted overdose and undergone a mental health assessment was able to leave an Ambulatory Care Unit unnoticed, subsequently taking his own life.
Overdue
Deanne Smith
Concerns: The practice of dispensing large quantities of methadone to drug-dependent individuals over public holidays increases the risk of future deaths and needs policy review.
Response (United Pharmacy): United Pharmacy pharmacists are working closely with patients' special workers, having regular meetings with Bromley Drugs and Alcohol services, and will encourage services to use pharmacies open at weekends for …
Overdue
Kathryn Sawyer
Concerns: A failure to adequately review and plan a reduction of high-dose addiction medications occurred, alongside a lack of detailed record-keeping regarding medication discussions and future plans.
Response (Roundwell Medical Centre): Roundwell Medical Centre has implemented several immediate actions regarding patients on addictive medications including assigning a single GP where possible, detailing clinical plans, adding read codes for easy identification, and …
Responded
Catherine Findlay
Concerns: Concerns about the availability and misuse of dangerous "research chemicals" like MXP, which are freely marketed online, consumed, and pose a life-threatening risk.
Response: The Minister notes the concern about MXP and refers to the Psychoactive Substances Bill creating a blanket ban on the supply of NPS. The government has launched a toolkit to …
Overdue
Arenijus Nedzelskies
Concerns: Specific synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (5F AKB-48, 5F PB-22) are not controlled substances, and the deceased's chronic misuse was not reported to the DVLA.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office highlights that the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 restricts the production, supply and importation of psychoactive substances, and notes over 500 new drugs have already been banned. It …
Overdue
Elvis Snelson
Concerns: The "legal high" acetylfentanyl, a highly potent opioid, poses significant risks due to users being unaware of its opioid nature, leading to dangerous sedation and respiratory depression.
Overdue
Christine Stevenson
Concerns: Large volumes of Oramorph solution, despite containing less than 0.2% morphine, are prescribed without sufficient control. This poses a serious and potentially fatal risk to naive users due to the high total dosage.
Response (Christine Stevenson): Greater Manchester will raise concerns about volumes/strengths of prescribed controlled drugs and provide guidance to prescribers, as well as examine its reporting system to identify high-volume prescribers. They will highlight …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office notes the concerns and states information from the investigation has been added to the Yellow Card Scheme to monitor substances suspected of being misused. The Home Secretary …
Responded
Robert Lloyd
Concerns: Geographical isolation and reduced transport options severely limited face-to-face alcohol support services, leading to reliance on less effective video links and decreased engagement for island residents.
Response (The Health Centre): The Health Centre met with the Drug and Alcohol Action Team, will host a new Addaction worker every 2 weeks, and has provided training for pharmacists to identify those at …
Response (Drug Alcohol Action Team): The DAAT conducted a needs assessment with the Isles of Scilly, put in place a joint improvement plan with Addaction, trained GPs and pharmacy staff, and plans to offer training …
Overdue
Anna Phillips
Concerns: The deceased obtained a dangerous, unlicensed weight loss drug (2,4 Dinitrophenol) online, which is known to cause fatalities.
Response (Food Standard Agency): The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) continues to prioritise tackling the illegal sale of DNP, sharing intelligence with Border Force, Royal Mail, and Post Office Investigations, and monitoring the internet …
Responded
Ian Wolstenholme
Concerns: A lack of national guidance for clinicians on co-prescribing multiple highly addictive and potentially harmful drugs creates a risk of serious harm or death from combined drug toxicity.
Response (Department of Health): NICE has been commissioned to produce guidance on safe prescribing and withdrawal management of prescribed drugs associated with dependence and withdrawal, with work due to start in early 2019.
Overdue
Matthew Hamilton
Concerns: Individuals released from custody are unaware that reduced drug tolerance post-abstinence risks fatal overdose if pre-custody consumption levels are resumed.
Response (HM Prison Probation Service): HMP Durham's Drug and Alcohol Reduction Team (DART) has updated their guidance pack to be offered to all prisoners on discharge, is offering Naloxone to prisoners at risk of opiate …
Responded
George Rimmer
Concerns: Inadequate patient counselling and insufficient warnings on medication packaging failed to address the dangers of exceeding doses, self-medicating, and unmeasured consumption.
Response (Boehringer Ingelheim): Changes have recently been made to the Oramorph" SmPC and PIL as a result of the European Medicine Agency (EMA) review of the Periodic Benefit Risk Evaluation Report (PBRER) for …
Responded
Matthew Fitten
Concerns: A change in methadone prescription to larger bottles, without providing a measuring jug, likely led to inaccurate dosing and a fatal overdose.
Response (Haverhill Pharmacy): Haverhill Pharmacy continues to supply methadone in individual containers, in line with normal working procedures. The pharmacy will make prescribers aware in advance if it faces any issues.
Response (UK Health Security Agency): PHE provides context on its COVID-19 guidance to the drug and alcohol treatment sector, developed with sector representatives. They emphasize the need for individualised risk assessments before changing medication dispensing …
Responded
Kimberley Smith
Concerns: The Trust lacks clear written policies for managing informal patients' leave requests, including risk assessments and monitoring. A vital recommendation for a comprehensive alcohol detoxification protocol also remains unimplemented.
Response (Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust): The Trust has developed guidance regarding alcohol detoxification for people admitted to inpatient wards and are developing new guidelines for managing people with Alcohol Use Disorders (AuDs). They have also …
Responded
Daniel Mervis
Concerns: Oxford University lacks an overarching drug misuse policy, and St John's College's conflicting approach of severe penalties versus support may discourage students with addiction from seeking help.
Response (St Johns College Oxford): St John's College will adopt a template policy for drug misuse, rewrite the student handbook for clarity, and include information in Fresher's week. They will also run a Welfare week …
Responded
Amy Ganner
Concerns: Insufficient patient education materials regarding opioid tolerance loss and associated toxicity risks are a concern, particularly after periods of abstinence.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The Department of Health details actions taken by the MHRA to update warnings on opioid medicines regarding dependence, addiction, and tolerance, as well as issuing a patient safety leaflet. They …
Responded
James Lacey
Concerns: Harmful substances are easily purchased with less rigorous control than 'regulated poisons,' lacking restrictions like licensing and record-keeping, posing a risk of misuse.
Overdue
Edward Capovila
Concerns: Insufficient information regarding unusual methods of fentanyl misuse poses a significant risk of future deaths due to its potential for varied abuse.
Response (Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency): The MHRA issued a drug safety bulletin in 2014 warning of overdose risk with fentanyl patches exposed to heat. In 2019, they reviewed benefits/risks and made recommendations for regulatory action, …
Responded
Kayleigh Burns
Concerns: The report raises the issue of whether the present legal framework concerning Nitrous Oxide should be reviewed, in light of this death, having regard to the seemingly increasing use of Nitrous Oxide particularly by young persons.
Overdue
Victoria Storey
Concerns: A highly potent, illicitly traded synthetic opiate with high fatal overdose risk is not yet controlled as a Class A, Schedule 1 drug, despite official advice for its urgent inclusion.
Response (Home Office): The government accepted ACMD recommendations to control synthetic opioids, including , under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and intends to bring forward this legislation by the end of the …
Overdue
Kristopher Tilbury
Concerns: HMP The Mount failed to control illicit drug supply, including psychoactive substances, leading to high availability even on a 'Wellbeing Wing' and multiple subsequent drug-related deaths.
Overdue
Sean Crawford
Concerns: There is a critical lack of specific medical and official guidance regarding the fatal risks associated with combining clozapine with alcohol.
Response (BNF): BNF plans to review wording on sedation risks in drug interaction information, to highlight risks of concurrent use of sedating drugs. They have also added pharmacodynamic interaction tables to online …
Response (Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency): The MHRA will conduct a further assessment of the information provided within the clozapine product information regarding drug-drug interactions, including information for healthcare professionals, patients, families, and carers, as part …
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The DHSC acknowledges the concerns and notes that the MHRA will conduct a further assessment of the information provided within the clozapine product information. They have shared the report with …
Responded
James Boland
Concerns: Ketamine's Class B classification falsely portrays it as safer than Class A drugs, encouraging illicit use despite causing severe, life-changing health problems like urological and liver damage.
Response (The Home Office): The Home Office acknowledges concerns about ketamine's classification and will commission the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to conduct an updated harms assessment of ketamine.
Responded
Joseph Forbes Black
Concerns: Naloxone kits are not widely available to drug users, especially those not engaged with substance misuse services, despite the increased risk from potent synthetic opioids.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The Department of Health and Social Care amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to expand access to naloxone beyond drug and alcohol treatment services, increasing the number of services and …
Response (NHS England): NHS England notes that the responsibility for commissioning drug dependency services rests with local authorities and that the DHSC is the more appropriate organisation to respond. It also mentions that …
Responded
Joshua Leatham-Prosser
Concerns: Ketamine is easily accessible, perceived as less harmful by teenagers, and its highly addictive nature causes severe, irreversible bladder damage (ketamine cystitis), trapping users in a cycle of dependence.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office acknowledges the concerns about ketamine's classification and potential harm, notes that it will continue to work with partners to discourage misuse and alert people about the dangers …
Responded
Frederick Ireland-Rose
Concerns: Cannabinoid vape users are unaware of the significant and variable risk of nitazene adulteration in vaping fluids and lack access to Naloxone, posing a high overdose risk.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The DHSC has a surveillance system in place to track changing drug markets and harms, including toxicology results from coroner post-mortem toxicology labs and implemented a structured process for assessing …
Response (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs): The ACMD acknowledges the concerns about nitazenes in vapes and notes its existing reports and recommendations on the issue, including improved toxicology and testing, and improved information for health professionals …
Responded
Matthew Singh Prevention of future deaths report
Concerns: High availability and use of illicit psychoactive substances persist at HMP Berwyn, posing significant risks to prisoner health and contributing to future deaths.
Response (HM Prison Probation Service): HMPPS is investing over £40 million in physical security enhancements across 34 prisons to deter drone use, has implemented Incentivised Substance Free Living Units in 85 prisons, and appointed 17 …
Overdue
Committee Recommendations (30)
#12 —
Recommendation: We are highly concerned that a compressed festival season, the likely circulation of high-strength, adulterated drugs and increased risk-taking after lockdown will lead to a spike in drug-related deaths at festivals this summer. We heard compelling 34 The future of …
Gov response: The government has a strong track record on investing to tackle drug misuse through the Home Office. No illicit drug can be assumed to be safe and there is no safe way to take illicit …
Not Addressed
#21 — Work with Scottish Government to create sustainable legal framework for Safer Drug Consumption Facilities.
Recommendation: If the independent evaluation of The Thistle deems the pilot a success, and the Scottish Government proceeds to make The Thistle permanent, and perhaps to open further SDCFs, the UK Government should work with the Scottish Government to make the …
Gov response: Response: The UK fully recognises the Scottish Government’s need to tackle drug misuse in areas where responsibility is devolved, including healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and education. The legislative framework for drugs works as intended, enabling …
Not Accepted
#20 — The Thistle's operational status remains precarious without UK Government approval or legislation.
Recommendation: Without the UK Government’s approval or a change in legislation, The Thistle and potential other Safer Drug Consumption Facilities could, theoretically, continue to operate in Scotland indefinitely but this is not a desirable situation as their status would be precarious …
Gov response: Response: The UK fully recognises the Scottish Government’s need to tackle drug misuse in areas where responsibility is devolved, including healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and education. The legislative framework for drugs works as intended, enabling …
Not Accepted
#17 — Urgently complete assessment and support The Thistle's drug checking licence application.
Recommendation: The Home Office should urgently complete its assessment of The Thistle for a drug checking licence and should ensure any necessary support is provided to ensure The Thistle is successful in its application. The Home Office should provide an update …
Gov response: Response: It is possible for drug checking services to obtain a Home Office licence, and the Home Office keeps an open dialogue with any potential applicants who wish to apply for a licence to ensure …
Not Addressed
#16 — Require UK Government to consider applications for medical equipment exemptions at The Thistle.
Recommendation: If an application for exemptions from the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to enable the provision of medical equipment at The Thistle were made by Glasgow City HSCP or the Scottish Government, the UK Government should consider such an application …
Gov response: Response: Under section 9A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 it is unlawful to supply articles which may be used for the administration of a controlled drug. The provision of tourniquets and other such …
Not Accepted
#15 — The Thistle's full effectiveness is inhibited without key harm reduction equipment and services.
Recommendation: Having access to equipment such as single-use tourniquets, testing drugs onsite, and allowing visitors to inhale drugs have all been highlighted as key to The Thistle achieving its maximum effectiveness. Without these, a full and fair evaluation of The Thistle …
Gov response: Response: Under section 9A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 it is unlawful to supply articles which may be used for the administration of a controlled drug. The provision of tourniquets and other such …
Not Accepted
#14 — Require the Lord Advocate and Scottish Government to consider future inhalation room applications on their merits.
Recommendation: The Lord Advocate believes that widening the statement of prosecution policy to allow an inhalation room to operate is undesirable and we understand the reasons she has given. However, given that expert medical advice suggests that allowing the inhalation of …
Gov response: Response: Under section 9A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 it is unlawful to supply articles which may be used for the administration of a controlled drug. The provision of tourniquets and other such …
Not Accepted
#13 — Legal barriers prevent The Thistle from operating effective drug inhalation rooms.
Recommendation: Drug trends in Scotland have changed and are changing. For The Thistle to be effective, it must be able to meet the needs of the population it is trying to help, which it cannot do without an inhalation room. As …
Gov response: Response: Under section 9A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 it is unlawful to supply articles which may be used for the administration of a controlled drug. The provision of tourniquets and other such …
Not Accepted
#7 — Addressing Scotland's severe drug crisis requires significant, commensurate investment due to high fatalities.
Recommendation: However, any discussion of the cost of The Thistle must be considered in the context of Scotland’s drugs crisis, with 1,172 people having died from drugs in 2023 alone. While it is right that the cost of The Thistle is …
Not Addressed
#5 — Establishing multiple safer drug consumption facilities requires a clear, common UK legal framework.
Recommendation: There has been interest in establishing SCDFs in other parts of Scotland, and the Lord Advocate has indicated that she will consider any such applications on their merits. Rather than having multiple facilities with individual 48 prosecution policy arrangements, it …
Gov response: Response: The UK fully recognises the Scottish Government’s need to tackle drug misuse in areas where responsibility is devolved, including healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and education. The legislative framework for drugs works as intended, enabling …
Not Accepted
#4 — The Thistle's current legal position creates risks for operators and users lacking a full framework.
Recommendation: The current Lord Advocate’s statement of prosecution policy has been pivotal in enabling The Thistle to open. However, the Lord Advocate’s prosecutorial discretion is not a substitute for a considered legal framework to enable and regulate safer drug consumption facilities. …
Gov response: The UK fully recognises the Scottish Government’s need to tackle drug misuse in areas where responsibility is devolved, including healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and education. The legislative framework for drugs works as intended, enabling harmful …
Not Accepted
#174 — Mandate universal rollout of take-home naloxone kits and training for all leaving custody.
Recommendation: The MoJ and NHS England, or its successor, must mandate the immediate, universal rollout of take-home naloxone kits for all individuals leaving custody. This must be coupled with comprehensive, compulsory training for all prisoners and staff. This public health measure …
Gov response: We acknowledge the importance of independent scrutiny for the valuable insights it provides the prison system, and we acknowledge the importance of effective physical security measures at every prison. However, there is already significant external …
Partially Accepted
#59 — Mandate all police forces to roll out voluntary naloxone provision, including funding and training.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Home Office requires all 43 police forces in England and Wales to roll out the voluntary provision of naloxone by operational officers. Volunteer officers must be provided with adequate training in the carrying and administration of …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. As outlined in the Drug Strategy, the Government continues to support a range of evidence-based approaches to reduce the health-related harms of drug misuse, such as widening the availability …
Partially Accepted
#58 — Non-universal naloxone provision by English police forces creates a dangerous postcode lottery.
Recommendation: The efforts of UK police forces to roll out this life saving treatment is welcome. However, provision of naloxone across English forces is not universal, which risks creating a postcode lottery on the availability of this potentially life-saving treatment in …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. As outlined in the Drug Strategy, the Government continues to support a range of evidence-based approaches to reduce the health-related harms of drug misuse, such as widening the availability …
Partially Accepted
#57 — Establish a national naloxone programme in England and rapidly expand provision to at-risk groups.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government establish a national naloxone programme in England to bring it in line with the devolved nations. We also recommend that the Government speed up its work on expanding the provision of naloxone following the UK-wide …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. The provision of naloxone is already included in the majority of local authorities’ public health grant spend. In addition, the expansion of naloxone is currently supported through the SSMTR …
Partially Accepted
#56 — National naloxone programme absent in England despite clear evidence of lifesaving effects.
Recommendation: The evidence on the lifesaving effects of naloxone in counteracting opioid- related overdose is clear. We welcome the national naloxone programmes in the devolved nations but are concerned that no such programme exists in England. We also welcome the joint …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. The provision of naloxone is already included in the majority of local authorities’ public health grant spend. In addition, the expansion of naloxone is currently supported through the SSMTR …
Partially Accepted
#13 —
Recommendation: We recommend that, before festivals take place this summer, the Home Secretary should make regulations under section 7 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 that allow organisations conducting drug checking to operate lawfully. Thereafter, the Government should introduce a …
Gov response: The government has a strong track record on investing to tackle drug misuse through the Home Office. No illicit drug can be assumed to be safe and there is no safe way to take illicit …
Not Addressed
#19 — Demonstrate an evidence-based approach and consider The Thistle's independent evaluation for policymaking.
Recommendation: The UK Government must demonstrate that it has an evidence-based approach to policy making and will consider the independent evaluation of The Thistle. Any intervention found to be effective at saving lives and reducing harm should not be dismissed. (Recommendation, …
Gov response: Response: The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach towards drug policy within the law, ensuring we are following the evidence and taking account of any relevant considerations when providing measures to tackle substance misuse. …
Not Addressed
#18 — Require UK Government to seriously consider evaluation of The Thistle and merits of SDCFs.
Recommendation: The Minister has stated that the UK Government will consider the evidence emerging from the pilot. However, it was clear from the Minister’s evidence that the Home Office will not make legislative changes, even if the evaluation finds that the …
Gov response: Response: The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach towards drug policy within the law, ensuring we are following the evidence and taking account of any relevant considerations when providing measures to tackle substance misuse. …
Not Addressed
#55 — Increase provision of essential equipment and additional services for needle and syringe programmes.
Recommendation: The Combating Drugs Minister must work with the Department of Health and Social Care, the devolved administrations, and health partners to ensure that the provision of equipment—particularly low dead space syringes and safe water—is increased to reduce the transmission of …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. Needle and syringe programmes are already embedded into, or work alongside, drug and alcohol services, commissioned by local authority public health to meet local need. Drug and alcohol services …
Partially Accepted
#54 — Ensure needle and syringe programmes reach wider populations to prevent blood-borne virus transmission.
Recommendation: We are concerned by the effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the provision of needle and syringe programmes. The UK must continue its efforts in preventing the spread of blood-borne viruses by ensuring needle and syringe programmes reach as …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. Needle and syringe programmes are already embedded into, or work alongside, drug and alcohol services, commissioned by local authority public health to meet local need. Drug and alcohol services …
Partially Accepted
#21 — Update the 10-Year Drugs Strategy to increase available harm reduction approaches for treatment.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government update the strategy to increase the range of harm reduction approaches available to support a person’s treatment and recovery from drugs in line with the approaches outlined in this report.
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. We already provide a broad range of harm reduction interventions, and these are enshrined within our Drug Strategy, ‘From Harm to Hope’. For example, we are increasing the availability …
Partially Accepted
#20 — 10-Year Drugs Strategy needs to expand its range of harm reduction approaches.
Recommendation: The 10-Year Drugs Strategy recognises some harm reduction approaches but could go further. Abstinence-based recovery may not be an effective form of treatment for everyone. A broader range of harm reduction treatments are therefore required to help as many people …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. We already provide a broad range of harm reduction interventions, and these are enshrined within our Drug Strategy, ‘From Harm to Hope’. For example, we are increasing the availability …
Partially Accepted
#10 — Local community concerns regarding The Thistle's impact require serious attention despite ongoing evaluation.
Recommendation: Community support and the impact of the SDCF on the local community is of paramount importance to the success of The Thistle. While we are reassured that the ongoing independent evaluation is monitoring the levels of discarded paraphernalia and the …
Not Addressed
#8 — Safer drug consumption facilities are complementary tools, not substitutes for recovery services.
Recommendation: It is also clear to us that SDCFs must not come at the cost of funding current recovery services. It is not an ‘either/or’. Rather, SDCFs are just one tool available to combat problem drug use, which is complementary to, …
Not Addressed
#160 — Widespread illicit substance availability normalises drug use and addiction within prisons.
Recommendation: The widespread and increasing availability of illicit substances has fostered a culture of acceptance that normalises drug use in prisons. This makes the presence of drugs inescapable for many prisoners. The situation is made worse by two key factors: the …
Gov response: We recognise the value of drug testing in achieving a range of outcomes, including supporting our understanding of the level and types of drug use in prisons, identifying individuals who may benefit from treatment referrals, …
Partially Accepted
#34 — Implement report recommendations on harm reduction, especially expanding drug diversion schemes for offenders.
Recommendation: We recommend the Government build on the harm reduction measures within the strategy by implementing the recommendations on harm reduction outlined in this report, particularly our recommendations on expanding diversion schemes.
Gov response: The Government accepts these recommendations. The Drug Strategy sets out a whole-system approach to tackling county lines, combining targeted law enforcement action with comprehensive measures to reduce demand for drugs and to re-build the drug …
Under Consideration
#48 — Commit to establishing long-acting buprenorphine as first-line treatment for opioid dependence in England.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government go further than its commitment under the 10- Year Drugs Strategy to explore the rollout of long-acting buprenorphine and commit to establishing it as a first-line treatment option in England for people with an opioid …
Gov response: The Government accepts recommendations 46, 47, 48 and 49. The 10-year Drug Strategy commits to increasing the number of high-quality treatment places available in a recovery-orientated system of care in every part of the country, …
Accepted
#12 — Drug strategy requires rapid adaptation to emerging synthetic opioid threats, with ongoing government preparedness.
Recommendation: Mr Trace told us that changes in drug markets can happen rapidly, and that if synthetic opioids became more prevalent in the UK, the strategy would need to adapt rapidly.35 Mr Lay told us that there had been a synthetic …
Gov response: 2.3 The government is taking robust action to develop a whole-system approach to reducing drug-related harm. For example, the cross-government Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is leading and coordinating the system-wide response to the increased risk posed …
Accepted
#47 — Long-acting buprenorphine shows encouraging results for opioid treatment in Wales.
Recommendation: We welcome the 10-Year Drug Strategy’s recognition of the potential positive impact of long-acting buprenorphine. We think that the use of Buvidal in Wales has provided a very encouraging UK evidence base and proved that it is an effective form …
Gov response: The Government accepts recommendations 46, 47, 48 and 49. The 10-year Drug Strategy commits to increasing the number of high-quality treatment places available in a recovery-orientated system of care in every part of the country, …
Under Consideration
PPO Death in Custody Recommendations (10)
The Head of Healthcare at HMP Exeter
The Head of Healthcare at HMP Exeter should ensure that prisoners who are assessed as being at risk of opioid overdose are provided with naloxone training at the earliest opportunity and given a naloxone kit when they leave prison.
The Head of Healthcare
The Head of Healthcare should ensure that prisoners who are assessed as at risk of opioid overdose are provided with a naloxone kit when they leave prison.
The Head of Healthcare
The Head of Healthcare should ensure that all prison leavers with a history of substance misuse are offered naloxone and harm reduction advice on release in line with Practice Plus Group’s policy.
The Head of Service Delivery for substance misuse
The Head of Service Delivery for substance misuse should satisfy themselves that the local policy on the offer and issue of naloxone on release captures prison leavers with previous opiate use and other relevant risk factors.
The Head of Healthcare
The Head of Healthcare should work in partnership with Practice Plus Group, the regional Health and Justice Leads and regional drug providers to satisfy themselves that: • the local policy on the offer and issue of naloxone on release captures …
The Head of Healthcare and the Substance Misuse Service Lead
The Head of Healthcare and the Substance Misuse Service Lead should ensure that prisoners with a history of substance misuse are offered harm reduction advice before their release.
The National Probation Service
The National Probation Service should review the position on the use of naloxone and make a decision about whether it should be made available for use by AP staff
The Manager of Peterborough AP
The Manager of Peterborough AP should update the Head of the National Approved Premises Team on measures taken to ensure that staff discuss residents’ reduced tolerance to drugs during induction.
The Head of Service Delivery (Substance Misuse)
The Head of Service Delivery (Substance Misuse) will wish to review the circumstances of Mr Wood’s release to ensure that the processes for issuing naloxone to prisoners on release are robust.
The Director of HMP Parc
The Director should ensure that Parc’s drug supply and demand reduction strategy: • is up-to-date and properly implemented to help reduce the availability and misuse of illicit substances; and • includes measures to address the diversion of prescribed medication.
IOPC Learning Recommendations (2)
Recommendations - Norfolk Constabulary, August 2023
The IOPC recommends that Norfolk Constabulary takes steps to ensure that response officers, who come into contact with a person who is believed to have consumed drugs, consider the possibility of whether the person has consumed different drugs. Drugs taken …
Recommendations - Norfolk Constabulary, August 2023
The IOPC recommends that Norfolk Constabulary takes steps to ensure that response officers, who come into contact with a person who is believed to have consumed drugs, can recognise the signs and symptoms of toxicity for commonly encountered drugs (as …
IMB Recommendations (8)
Portland (2020)
The ingress of illicit drugs into Portland needs to be addressed. It is having an impact on the health and well-being of prisoners and staff, and is linked to debt, bullying, violence, isolation and overall stability in the prison.
Governor / Director
Swaleside (2020)
The efforts to prevent the ingress of weapons, phones and drugs are well appreciated and must continue unabated in order to improve this problem. The continued ingress of mobile phones is particularly worrying as a major route through visits has been cut off during the COVID-19 lock-down (see section 4).
Governor / Director
Dartmoor (2020)
There continues to be a serious level of substance misuse at HMP Dartmoor. What additional measures are planned to address this, particularly in the absence of capital investments such as portals and itemisers?
HMPPS
Wayland (2024)
whether there could not be a greater emphasis on alternative strategies than ones of prohibition and interdiction of the actual supply and the provision of treatment options for those caught up in its effects. We mean by this a strategy which counters the reasons that prisoners find drug-taking either attractive as a way of dealing with their personal pains of …
Governor / Director
Rochester (2020)
The Board retains the view that to enable a better outcome for prisoners and reduce re-offending, increased funding for resources should be allocated across the entire prison estate for tackling drug-use by prisoners. This includes improvements in security technology and intervention programmes.
Ministry of Justice
Norwich (2020)
Is the Prison Service analysing the repercussions of the replacement of tobacco by vapes, and what are the conclusions?
HMPPS
Wayland (2021)
The Board hopes, in addressing the scourge of drugs and intoxicants in prison, that innovative use of modern technology, including the use of targeted sobriety testing or tagging, and an enlargement of official ways of sourcing permitted items, could be researched as a policy initiative by the Prison Service and so recommends (see section 4.6).
HMPPS
Bullingdon (2022)
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of drugs. This is despite the strenuous efforts which were made in the reporting year on the part of the prison. What further steps can the Prison Service take to address the availability and use of drugs in the prison?
HMPPS