Drugs Commission ‘advises caution’ on interpretation of statistics

The National Commission on the Abuse of Drugs has advised caution on the interpretation of the statistics in media reports over drug use at the Corradino Correctional Facility, after the Sunday Times reported that 41% of prison inmates had tested positive for drugs last year.

According to the report, in 2010 a total number of 731 individuals were in prison after arrest or sentencing. After being tested, 41% of inmates (299 individuals) tested positive for opiates, cocaine, cannabis or a mix of two or all drug types.

The Commission said 30% of all inmates (233 individuals) resulted positive for drugs following standard testing. "This means these individuals used drugs before going to prison and not while in prison," the Commission said.

The Commission is claiming that the report quoted by the Sunday Times "does not indicate whether [drug dependence] was on admission or during the stay at CCF."

The Commission added the report is not saying that people who entered the prison drug free developed a habit during their stay there.

It however added: "The data is clear on one issue: a proportion of the prison population enters CCF with a drug problem. In fact during the year 2010, 37% of the inmates were sentenced for drug related offences while not in prison."