Prison Needle Exchange Program
Classification: Unclassified
Branch/Agency: CSC
Proposed Response:
- Like much of Canadian society, the Correctional Service of Canada is experiencing the effect of Canada’s opioid crisis as a health issue. To address this issue, the Service has implemented various initiatives to decrease drug use and reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
- Although the Correctional Service of Canada has measures in place to prevent contraband from entering institutions, attempts to introduce contraband continue to occur.
- Prevention and treatment of infectious diseases within correctional institutions protects not only the federal offender population, but also correctional personnel and the Canadian public.
- To date, the Prison Needle Exchange Program has been implemented at nine institutions and there have been no reported safety incidents involving staff or inmates. Program implementation will continue with Warkworth Institution in February and Bowden Institution in March.
- The Correctional Service of Canada will continue to engage with employees, partners and bargaining agents as program rollout continues.
Background:
The main goals of the Prison Needle Exchange Program (PNEP) are to reduce the sharing of needles among people who inject drugs, help prevent fatal and non-fatal overdoses, and to facilitate referral to health care services.
The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) began implementation of the PNEP in its institutions in June 2018. To date, the PNEP has been implemented at 9 institutions and there have been no safety incidents involving staff or other inmates. Implementation is ongoing and the next site for PNEP is Bowden Institution in March 2020. Implementation will continue along with ongoing consultation with partners.
The PNEP will give federal inmates access to sterile needles in an effort to limit the transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV and HCV. PNEP participants are not exempt from the rules against the possession and consumption of illicit drugs.
Staff Safety
CSC has gained experience managing inmates using needles in a safe and secure manner with its existing programs for EpiPens and insulin use for diabetes. A Threat Risk Assessment model similar to the one currently in effect for EpiPens and insulin needles will be used to determine which offenders can participate. Health and security factors, such as an inmate’s past involvement in security-related incidents are reviewed. The institutional head or deputy warden will confirm if there are security concerns that would prevent the offender from participating in the program. Staff training and ongoing engagement with bargaining agents and other partners will help ensure safe and successful implementation. Since the program was implemented, there have been no reported assaults involving needles at any of the approved sites.
Once enrolled in the PNEP, an inmate can exchange the entire PNEP kit for a new one as needed. Appropriate safeguards will be established in every institution to ensure that PNEP kits are safely stored and accounted for. Each site will establish a procedure, whereby PNEP kits are verified by staff on a daily basis. The kit and its contents will be visually inspected and will be seized if it appears to be altered, have unaccounted contents, or the contents are observed outside of the kit. This could also result in the inmate being reassessed for participation in the PNEP program, as well as institutional charges or disciplinary measures.
PNEP Consultations with Bargaining Agents
CSC has been engaging with all three bargaining agents, the Union of Safety and Justice Employees, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada and the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers/Syndicat des Agents Correctionnels du Canada/Confédération des Syndicats Nationaux, and partners, on the implementation of the PNEP at the local, regional and national levels. At the institutions where the PNEP has been implemented, the implementation pathway involved engagement with institutional staff including the three bargaining agents, distribution of written information to staff and inmates and information sessions with staff, management, Citizen Advisory Committees, inmate committees, Workplace Health and Safety Committees and others. The same approach will continue as CSC continues its roll out of the PNEP at other institutions across the country.
Substance Use Disorder in the Offender Population
Substance use disorder in the offender population is a serious and pervasive problem. At admission to CSC, approximately 75% of offenders report a history of substance use disorder, with a sizable proportion of this group misusing more than one drug (or alcohol). Half of all incomers to CSC report an active substance use disorder, and the majority (68%) also have a concurrent comorbid mental health disorder. Intravenous drug use, and to a lesser extent snorting drugs, can increase the risk of getting or spreading infectious diseases, which can pose a public health and safety risk to other offenders, staff, and the community on release.
Next Steps
CSC will continue with implementation that supports the safety of those participating in the program, other inmates and staff.
Ongoing monitoring and formal external evaluation will inform and shape the delivery of the program.
Contacts:
Prepared by: Jessica Martineau, Officer Parliamentary Relations, 613-943-1726
Approved by: Kirstan Gagnon, Assistant Commissioner, Communications & Engagement, 613-995-6867
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