Since this week, inmates of the Drummondville penitentiary have been able to consume drugs under the supervision of medical staff, ready to intervene in the event of an overdose. This is a first in Quebec.
The program, which aims to combat the scourge of overdoses in prisons, was established by the federal government.
Established five years ago at the Drumheller penitentiary, in Alberta, it was expanded to Drummond Institution on Wednesday.
Prisoners will now be able to inject drugs under the supervision of health professionals responsible for intervening in the event of an overdose, but also for offering psychosocial support.
This is the only program of its kind in the prison environment known in the world, Correctional Service Canada (CSC) indicated by email.
The service is currently offered in two other penitentiaries across the country, Collins Bay, Ontario, and Springhill, Nova Scotia. In total, 96 prisoners have used it since 2019.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Alexandre Berthelot, director of community services at Cactus Montréal.
No matter the efforts made to eliminate drugs in prison, inmates will always find a way to use, he argues.
“We might as well be pragmatic and make it as safe as possible,” argues Mr. Berthelot, whose organization was consulted with a view to implementing the program at the Drummondville penitentiary.
An “amnesty zone”
The possession and use of illicit substances is illegal in prisons.
Drugs intended for use in the program will be considered contraband until participants enter the “amnesty zone.”
Once inside, inmates will not be subject to search protocols beyond those required by the overdose prevention department.
In the best of all worlds, “there would be no drugs between the walls,” says Frédérick Lebeau, national vice-president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers.
However, prisons are not immune to the opioid crisis plaguing the country. In recent years, drugs have been circulating more within their walls. And overdoses are increasing.
“With the lack of tools we currently have, it becomes very difficult to manage,” observes Mr. Lebeau.
Generally speaking, the union welcomes the arrival of the program, even if reluctance persists among correctional officers, initially trained to detect drugs.
“Take drugs throughout your sentence and come out without having undergone treatment [de désintoxication]it’s a bit contradictory with what we do on a daily basis,” illustrates Frédérick Lebeau.
Not just anyone will be able to participate in the program. To be admitted, prisoners will have to submit a request to a health professional, which could constitute an obstacle, believes Alexandre Berthelot.
“I put myself in the position of a detainee, and I tell myself that he might fear becoming the target of more frequent searches,” he says.
75%
Percentage of inmates reporting a history of substance abuse upon admission to a prison facility.
Source: Correctional Service Canada
Needle exchange
Since the implementation of the program, a reduction in the number of drug-related overdoses and hospitalizations has been observed at Drumheller Penitentiary, according to SCC.
“CSC continues to monitor data as this service is implemented in other institutions,” the organization says.
In recent years, several prevention and harm reduction programs have been put in place to prevent overdoses in federal penitentiaries.
Among them, a needle exchange program allowing prisoners to have access to sterile equipment for injecting drugs.
“In this case, the inmate consumes in his cell, alone. This really poses a security problem. We are against this approach,” emphasizes Frédérick Lebeau.
He says the overdose prevention program is a better solution. “We are certain that in the event of an overdose, the inmate will be taken care of immediately,” he said.
Despite everything, more will be needed to stem the scourge of drugs in prisons, the union believes.
“It takes tools, body scanners to detect drugs. The more drugs there are, the higher the level of violence. It destabilizes the entire prison ecosystem,” argues Mr. Lebeau.