English prisons adopt automated methadone dispensing systems
PJ Online
Wed, 22/07/2009
Methadone is dispensed via a secure system that recognises the patient (Cordelia Molloy/Science Photo Library)
Prisoners being treated for opioid dependence are benefiting from automated methadone dispensing in a £4m service being rolled out across England (6 July 2009).
The scheme — revealed by health minister Phil Hope in response to a Parliamentary question — involves a biometric-based computer methadone dispensing system.
The systems have been installed in 57 prisons so far with further systems planned for installation in 13 other prisons.
A Department of Health spokeswoman told The Journal that the dispensing system uses biometric information, for example from the patient’s iris. “This means that the treatment can only be given to the right person, at the right time, in the right dose.”
She added: “Methadone dispensers are a safe and secure method for providing a prescribed treatment. They can only be accessed by the person who has been clinically assessed as needing methadone. … Automating this process saves time and money, freeing healthcare staff for frontline duties.”
Carol Lange, pharmacy adviser for integrated drug treatment systems at Offender Health, explained that reports of “methadone vending machines” being installed in prisons were inaccurate. “However, there has been an introduction of comprehensive clinical treatment guidelines for substance misuse,” she said.
“It is recognised that in some prisons, numbers of patients requiring methadone regimens will be high and, to ensure patient safety, in these prisons automated pump systems for administering methadone have been introduced.”
She added that pharmacy staff have been closely involved with the introduction of substance misuse services within prisons. “This varies from involvement with safe systems of work and the drawing up of standard operating procedures through to administration of maintenance doses or acting as supplementary prescribers.”