Ambulance call-outs to deal with prison overdoses soar amid 'drugs epidemic'
The number of ambulance call-outs made to prisons after reported overdoses and ‘poisonings’ has almost doubled in the past year, fuelling fears of a ‘drug epidemic’ behind bars.
New Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) figures show that 109 calls were made in 2023-24, a sharp increase on the 62 calls in 2022-23 – a rise of 76 per cent.
Prison bosses insisted they are working with police to ‘prevent illicit substances entering our establishments, to protect people from the harm they cause’.
The figures came as a group which receives taxpayers’ money claimed free needles and vapes should be handed out to prisoners so they can take Class A drugs in a safer way.
Last night Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘This shocking rise in ambulance call-outs for overdoses and poisonings in prisons confirms what staff have been warning about for years.
‘The drugs epidemic inside Scotland’s jails is escalating, putting inmates’ lives at risk, creating a toxic atmosphere for those trying to get clean and putting prison officers in danger.
‘It’s also adding to the strain on our already overstretched emergency workers - at a time when Scotland’s ambulance service is unable to meet demand, these additional, avoidable pressures are making things worse.’
The number of ambulance call-outs to deal with drug overdoses in prisons in Scotland has risen sharply
Among the prisons with the highest number of ambulance call-outs for ‘overdose/poisoning’ since 2019 were HMP Shotts (65) in Lanarkshire and HMP Addiewell in West Lothian (47).
A further 45 calls were made to HMP Glenochil [in Tullibody, Clacks], 42 at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow, 38 at HMP Grampian, 23 at HMP Perth.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Drugs Forum - which received almost £2million from the public purse last year - has suggested the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) should provide drug paraphernalia so inmates can inject narcotics in prison.
That is despite guards battling a drug crisis as more than a third of inmates have admitted taking illegal substances in prison, with more than a quarter saying their drug use only started - or increased - while in custody.
The Forum’s plan came after Health Secretary Neil Gray last week said a heroin shooting gallery in Glasgow may be extended to allow addicts to inhale crack cocaine.
Commenting further on the ambulance call-outs last night, Tory MSP Mr Kerr said: ‘Nationalist ministers, detached from reality in their Holyrood bubble, have allowed this situation to spiral out of control.
‘There are solutions to this problem if the Scottish Government would only put in the time, effort and resource to examine and implement them.’
An SPS spokesman said: ‘The health and wellbeing of those in our care is a key priority.
‘We work with NHS partners, who are responsible for healthcare in our establishments, to ensure emergency calls to the SAS are only made when necessary and appropriate.
‘Our staff work hard, alongside partners, including Police Scotland, to prevent illicit substances entering our establishments, to protect people from the harm they cause.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The SPS are managing a high and complex prison population and work closely with Police Scotland and other justice partners to prevent the availability and supply of illicit substances.
‘This includes SPS piloting the introduction of grilles on windows in HMP Perth, HMP Edinburgh, and HMP Glenochil to prevent items being passed from drone to an individual in a cell.
‘If successful, this pilot will be expanded where appropriate.
‘The NHS, which is responsible for healthcare in prisons, works closely with the SPS to ensure emergency calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service are only made when necessary and appropriate.
‘We are also increasing investment in our vital prison service by increasing the SPS resource budget by 10 per cent to £481.5million in 2025/26, which helps promote the health, safety, and wellbeing of all people who live in Scotland’s prison system.’
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