This would include condoms, bleach for disinfecting needles, and needle exchange programmes, where these are available in the community. Sex in prisons is often illegal, and by providing condoms, prison authorities fear they are condoning sex. This raises the issue of whether or not the right to privacy protects sex between two consenting adults in prison. Similarly with drug use in prison, this is clearly illegal, yet it does go on. Such comprehensive programmes, including those that involve needle exchange, have proven effective on the outside.
Initial studies show that they also work in prisons.
Much more work needs to be done to find effective means to reduce transmission of HIV by sex and drugs in prisons. But the failure to provide the basic measures, such as information, education and the means of prevention available on the outside, violate prisoners' rights to health, security of person and equality before the law. It could also be said to constitute cruel and inhuman treatment. Though sex and drug-use in prison may be bad, spreading HIV is worse. Prisoners are the essential captive audience.