Penal Reform Trust slams mandatory drug tests for prisoners

The Irish Penal Reform Trust has criticised Justice Minister Michael McDowell's plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all Irish prisons.

The trust said today that the plan would have no impact on drug abuse among inmates and could even make the problem worse.

It said a comprehensive drug treatment programme to help reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C in prisons would be a better use of resources.

IPRT director Rick Lines said evidence from other countries showed that mandatory testing was ineffective and counterproductive.

"It has, in fact, had an influence in encouraging people to switch their drug of choice and their method of drug use from smoking cannabis to injecting heroin," he said.

"This is specifically because injecting heroin is less easily detected by drug-screening kits. As a result, you have a situation where you're increasing the risk of transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C in prisons while not making a significant dent in the overall levels of drug use."