Prison bosses give inmates tips...on how to take drugs

BOSSES at Scotland’s largest jail are giving inmates advice on the best ways to take drugs they have smugged into their cells.

A letter to prisoners lists 11 ways to be safer when taking illegal subtances – and how to look after fellow convicts who might be under the influence.

It comes as prisons struggle to cope with contraband, in particular the ‘zombie’ drug Spice – so-called because it leaves users in a stupor and can cause hallucinations and severe psychotic episodes.

The synthetic cannabis has also been linked to mental health issues within prisons.

The Scottish Prison Service(SPS) guidance – circulated at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow – advises prisoners to take drugs only if accompanied by a ‘sober’ friend, to ‘pace yourself’ and leave a twohour gap before taking anything else. It also advises inmates to chew ‘soft sweets’ if they suffer ‘jaw-clenching’ symptoms.

Last month, the Scottish Affairs Committee called for drug use to be decriminalised, with addiction treated as a ‘public health issue’.

Last night, Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr accused the SPS of putting ‘hard-working prison officers at even more risk’ by handing out the drugs advice. He added: ‘Prisons are meant to be secure environments where nothing gets in or out. The fact inmates are being given advice on how to take drugs safely shows just how far gone this problem is.’

The guidance follows the release in April of statistics showing that drug abuse and violence are ‘out of control’ in Scotland’s prisons.

Andy Hogg, from the Prison Officers Association Scotland, said at the time that staff morale had hit ‘rock bottom’ amid rising numbers of inmates abusing psychoactive substances.

Prison chiefs have been trying to crack down on the drug trade.

But in May last year, a report by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland warned soaring numbers of inmates were taking Spice.

Meanwhile, a review in October of HMP Glenochil, which houses sex offenders and criminals handed Orders for Lifelong Restriction, showed drug-taking was rife in the Stirlingshire prison, which was also condemned by watchdogs for the ‘prevalence of weapons’ behind bars.

Watchdogs said synthetic drugs in the prison had led to ‘unpredictable and unreliable behaviour’, causing ‘regular instances of violence’.

A SPS spokesman said: ‘A comprehensive range of robust security measures are in place to prevent the introduction of contraband into our prisons.

‘Significant investment continues to be made in the development of new technology and staff training to detect, deter and reduce the availability and supply of illegal drugs.

‘Anyone found in possession of contraband or attempting to smuggle such items into our prisons will reported to the appropriate authorities’.