Modern Australian

Prisoners need drug and alcohol treatments but AA programs aren't the answer

  • Written by Jarryd Bartle, Sessional Lecturer in Criminal Law, RMIT University
Prisoners need drug and alcohol treatments but AA programs aren't the answerAround half of prisoners have a substance dependence.Karanik yimpat/Shutterstock

Prisons and drug use are closely linked. Two-thirds of Australian prisoners report using illicit drugs in the 12 months before they entered prison, compared with 12% of the general population in the previous 12 months. Around half of prisoners are likely to meet the...