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<p>The Drug Recovery Wings (DRWs) pilots were launched in 2011/2012 in eight men’s
and two women’s prisons in England and Wales running until 2015. The DRWs focussed
primarily on drug and alcohol misusing offenders sentenced to between 3-12 months
in custody, but the scope was extended in 2012 to include those on remand and those
serving longer sentences who were in their last year of sentence.</p><p>An <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/research/mental-health/projects/drugrecoverywingpilotsevaluation/#tab-3"
target="_blank">independent Evaluation of the Drug Recovery Wing Pilots</a> was published
on 5<sup>th</sup> October 2017 and provides information on the capacity of the wings
within each prison. The Evaluation found that comparing the six months prior to incarceration
and the six months following release, there was a reduction in self-reported substance
use and crime. However, in the absence of a comparison group, this reduction cannot
be attributed to the DRWs.</p><p>In the impact evaluation, 319 prisoners were interviewed
at the beginning of their DRW engagement, 203 prior to their departure from the wing
and 109 once they had been living back in the community for six months. The most common
experience described by interviewees was being released into a hostel, or funded B&B.
Of those interviewed post-release, it was self-reported that 12% reporting shoplifting,
9% theft other than from a vehicle and 9% handling stolen goods in the six months
following release. <em>[It’s important to note that there might selection bias meaning
these reoffending rates might be an underestimate.]</em></p><p>Governors and local
health commissioners decide if they wish to commission drug recovery wings when considering
how best to meet the needs of their population. HMP Brixton and HMP Styal continue
to run DRWs since the pilot ended and a number of establishments in partnership with
Drug Treatment Providers established their own local recovery wings or therapeutic
community models outside of the original pilot areas. Building on the DRWs, we are
currently piloting new approaches to tackle the demand for and supply of drugs amongst
prisoners, which includes developing a range of evidence based substance misuse treatment
and provisions to support recovery in prison and through the gate.</p><p>Although
no specific funding was provided to assist offenders who have participated in programmes
on drug recovery wings, a new resettlement service was introduced in 2015 through
which prisoners are given continuous support when they leave prison into the community.
Almost all prisoners, including those on remand, now receive through-the-gate help
and supervision to meet identified needs, including with substance misuse problems.
These services are delivered by Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs), which work
with prisons and locally commissioned substance misuse services to provide access
for offenders.</p>
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