Patterns of illicit drug use of prisoners in police custody in London, UK

The aims of the study were to explore the current characteristics of drug misusers seen in police custody and identify trends or changes that have taken place in the last decade. A prospective, anonymised, structured questionnaire survey was undertaken of consenting consecutive, self-admitted illicit drug users seen by forensic physicians in police custody within the Metropolitan Police Service in London, UK in 2003. 30% of detainees were dependent on heroin or crack cocaine. Drug users ( n = 113) were studied in 2003. 95.4% completed the questionnaire. 82% were male, 18% female. Mean age was 28.5 y (range 18–49). 80% were unemployed; significant mental health issues (e.g., schizophrenia) were present in 18%; 15% had alcohol dependence; heroin was the most frequently used drug (93%); crack cocaine −87%; mean daily cost of drugs – heroin GBP 76 (range 20–240), crack GBP 81 (range 20–300). >50% users inject crack and heroin simultaneously. 56% used the intravenous route; 25% had shared needles; 100% had accessible sources of clean needles; 6.4% were hepatitis B positive; 42% were aware of hepatitis prophylaxis; hepatitis C positive – 20.2%; 3.6% were HIV positive. Mean length of time of drug use was 7.5 y (range 1 month – 20 years); 82% had served a previous prison sentence; 54% had used drugs in prison; 11% had used needles in prison; 3% of users stated they had started using in prison. 38% had been on rehabilitation programs; 11% had been on Drug Treatment & Testing; Orders (DTTO); 32% had used the services of Drug Arrest Referral Teams in police stations; 10% were in contact with Drug Teams at the time of assessment. In the last decade, there appears to be a substantial increase in the prevalence of drug use in this population – particularly of crack cocaine. Treatment interventions are either not readily available, or not followed through. In very general terms, the illicit drug use problem appears to have significantly worsened in the population seen in police custody in London, UK, in the last decade although there is evidence that health education and harm reduction messages appear to have had some positive effects.