Burrowes exposes 'methadone madness' of Government drug treatment policy in prisons

Following repeated questioning of the Government, Justice Minister Maria Eagle finally admitted that nearly 20,000 prisoners are prescribed and maintained on methadone.

Shadow Justice Minister David Burrowes said "first the Government denied the figures existed but finally admitted to a shocking 57% increase last year in prisoners maintained on a methadone prescription. It is now more likely under this Government that a prisoner will be addicted to methadone than drug free. It is methadone madness."

BACKGROUND:

Written Parliamentary Answer on November 11th:

Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 2063W, on treatment programmes, what the disaggregated figures for (a) detoxification and (b) maintenance are for (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09. [297673]

Maria Eagle: The following table provides figures⁽¹⁾ for prisoners recorded as entering detoxification or maintenance.
 

LINK: BBC News