The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

The researchers report that an estimated 10 to 60.4 percent of prisoners use drugs. Needle and syringe programs and opioid substitution treatments (mostly methadone maintenance therapy) are particularly effective in reducing HIV risk behaviors in prisons without adverse consequences for the health of prison staff or prisoners, the authors note. Bleach and decontamination strategies to sterilize needles and syringes can be effective, but are generally not performed effectively in prison, the investigators found. Drug-free units, separate living units that focus on limiting the availability of drugs, have been shown to be effective but little is known about their long-term effectiveness, the report indicates.

"The renewed emphasis on HIV and broader health issues in prisons represents a recognition that 'public health can no longer afford to ignore prison health,'" Jurgens and colleagues conclude. "Recognizing that 'prison health is public health,' that 'prisoners are entitled to a standard of health equivalent to that available in the outside community, including preventive measures' and that protecting and promoting the health of prisoners benefits not only prisoners, but also prison staff and the communities outside prison, implementation of evidence-based HIV programs in prisons is an important component of national AIDS programs that can no longer be neglected."
http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Needle-and-Syringe-Programs-Reduce-HIV-in-Prisons/ArticleNewsFeed/Article/detail/573166?contextCategoryId=40146