Indeed, for some drug addicts and alcoholics it is a welcomed reprieve from compulsive and harmful drug use. Whilst in custody, they can get fit, put on weight and attend to important medical and dental problems. The fittest looking drug addict is often just out of jail. Prison authorities have found that the provision of methadone reduces tensions amongst inmates. Despite initial reservations, it has also been welcomed by warders, medical staff and public health services.
Some jails permit condoms but the spread of viral disease is still a major concern.
The prison population has higher rates of HIV and hepatitis than the general community. There are also increased risks of spread both within the jail and then to the wider community when prisoners return to their families. The majority of inmates only spend short periods in custody. The majority of heroin addicts who come to the attention of treatment services have been injecting at least twice daily for over six months. Like pathology collectors and the blood bank, intravenous drug users generally employ the most accessible veins.