Nearly half of the inmates at the State’s dedicated women’s prison are receiving methadone as a treatment for their opioid addiction.
Figures show 46.3% at the Dochas Centre on the Mountjoy campus in Dublin, used the drug as part of a treatment programme at the end of last month.
It is the largest proportion of prisoners undergoing opioid substitution treatment at any detention facility in the State and is three times higher than the average of 15% in all other jails combined.
Inmates who report a history of opiate use and test positive upon entering custody are offered methadone as part of a medically assisted symptomatic detoxification programme.
The number of inmates who were prescribed methadone last year increased to 2,080 – its highest level since 2012.
At the end of last month there were 669 prisoners in receipt of the drug.
The facility accommodates the majority of female prisoners, while 36 more were in custody at Limerick Prison.
The figures were provided by the Justice Minister in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fail TD John Curran.
Charlie Flanagan said: “The Irish Prison Service provides a healthcare service for prisoners with addictions in a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice.”
Separately, it emerged 220 prisoners are currently on a waiting list for access to drug counselling services.
In response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan, Mr Flanagan revealed 1,570 inmates had sought access to such services to date this year.
While 86% of these have been given access to drug counselling, 220 remain on a waiting list for a consultation with a counsellor from Merchant Quay – a charity engaged by the prison service to provide addiction counselling services.
