Prison drugs abuse

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell claims his plan for mandatory drug testing of prisoners will end heroin use in Irish prisons (Irish Examiner, December 31).

Evidence from other countries shows exactly the opposite to be true - that mandatory drug testing increases heroin use among prisoners. It also increases levels of drug injection and the risk of HIV and hepatitis C transmission through shared syringes.

Mr McDowell calls our demands for an evidence-based prison drugs policy a “blind eye approach”. We suggest, however, that the real policy blindness in centred in the minister’s office.

Rick Lines

Executive Director

Irish Penal Reform Trust

53 Parnell Square West

Dublin 1