Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps her Department is taking to help support prisoners with long term drugs or alcohol dependency, including the management of withdrawal.
Minister of Justice: The responsibility for the provision of health services to people in prison custody in Northern Ireland transferred to the Department of Health in April 2008. The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (the Trust) is commissioned to provide primary, mental health and addictions services to people in prison custody in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service works collaboratively with the Trust to provide support for people with additional needs, including addictions, across all threes prison sites through activities and access to therapeutic spaces.
ENDS
Your MLA 