A new report by colleagues in our Drugs and Alcohol Research Network (DARN) draws on the voices and experiences of prisoners, prison staff and health care staff to examine the use of prescription medication in prisons in Northern Ireland.

The report is called 'The Use of Prescription Medication in Prisons in Northern Ireland' and was compiled by Kathryn Higgins, Grace Kelly, Nina O’Neill, Leeanne O’Hara and Anne Campbell. Funded by the Health and Social Care Public Health Agency, the research looks at patterns of use, as reported by participants, revealing broad agreement on current trends. The research also examines availability and motivational drivers for the use of prescription medication in the prison environment. (Image courtesy of Prison Arts Foundation)