Drugs use in prisons remains rife: Report

Prisoners in Irish jails have tested positive for drugs more than 40,000 times in the past three years.

Figures published today show that there has been no drop in drug use among inmates since the drug-free prisons policy was introduced in 2004.

Detection rates are as high as 75% in some jails with Mountjoy Prison reporting the most issues with drugs use.

Across the prison system last year, more than a third of drugs tests came out positive, with most inmates having taken a cocktail of drugs, including cannabis, heroin, morphine and cocaine.