Research into the nature and effectivenesss of drugs throughcare

This report summarises the results of a study examining the nature of drugs throughcare for prisoners with serious drug misuse problems. Drugs Throughcare refers to the treatment and support offered to prisoners making the transition from prison to the community. The research gauges the impact of these interventions on ex-prisoners' drug taking and offending behaviour on their release. A range of different agencies and organisations share the responsibility for organising and delivering drug throughcare services, including the Prison and Probation Services, Health Authorities, Social Service Departments, Drug Action Teams, as well as both statutory and independent drug agencies. The research set out to assess how this complex network organises throughcare provision, as well as what constitutes good practice in this area.