Prison drug use to be studied

A STUDY on the level of drug use in prisons and the possible need for needle exchanges in jails will begin this autumn under the terms of a tender issued this week.

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the Irish Prison Service are to fund the project, where saliva samples will be taken from prisoners and anonymous questionnaires will be filled in to indicate just how many inmates are using drugs.

Those behind the study hope to begin work in October, with results to be finalised by next summer.