News Release

For Immediate Release Monday 21 September 2015

Milestone for Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison’s Drug Treatment Unit

Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison’s Drug Treatment Unit marked the completion of its 50th six month drug and alcohol programme on Friday, with a graduation of 10 prisoners.

In total 541 prisoners have graduated from the Drug Treatment Unit’s (DTU) six month drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme since it was opened in May 2007. The programme is run in conjunction with treatment provider CareNZ.

Addressing alcohol and drug abuse is one of the priority focus areas for Corrections. Two-thirds of New Zealand prisoners have substance abuse problems and more than 50% of crime is committed by people under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Prison Director George Massingham said the graduation was an important milestone.

“Not only is the Drug Treatment Unit addressing the men’s addiction to drugs and alcohol, it’s an important step in their rehabilitation.

“That more than 500 men have graduated from the programme to date is a credit to them, their mentors, unit staff and CareNZ.

“It represents a fresh start for the men and will benefit them, their families and the community,” he said.

Prisoners who have successfully completed a course in the DTU gain the skills and techniques that will aid them in remaining drug free and in recognising trigger points in their lives that could cause them to relapse.

CareNZ has worked alongside the Department of Corrections in facilitating DTUs across New Zealand since 1997, when the first DTU in Arohata Women’s Prison was opened. The programme offered within the prisons is very intensive.

“Since commencing the DTU Programme I now have better insight of the underlying factors to my addiction. I can identify triggers that lead to high risk situations to eliminate re-offending in the future,” says Jack*, who graduated from the programme on Friday.

Gill Hood, General Manager Operations at CareNZ, highlighted the positive outcomes of the programme.

“The graduation is a major achievement for the men, it has taken them a lot of courage and hard work to make changes to their lives. For CareNZ as a treatment provider, this 50th graduation is a great opportunity to look back at what we have achieved. Research shows that DTU programmes are effective in reducing crime, we will continue to support offenders in prison and are also planning to expand our services for graduates in the community.”

The DTU is a separate 60 bed unit, away from the mainstream prison. Operating as a Therapeutic Community, it provides a supportive and caring environment. The community (i.e. prisoners and staff) work together to establish an environment in which participants feel safe to address their own issues. The programme is supported by the use of mentors, who themselves are graduates of a DTU.

Through structured group work, social skills training and therapy groups the programme addresses factors that influence participants’ alcohol and drug use and therefore contributes to reducing offending behaviour.

There is strict criteria for entry to the programme; most importantly prisoners must acknowledge that they have an addiction and be motivated to make a change in their lives.

There are nine specialist DTUs around the country.

Providing increased alcohol and drug treatment is one of the ways Corrections aims to reduce re-offending by 25% by 2017. Drug and alcohol treatment is also available for prisoners who are not part of the DTU.

A range of drug and alcohol rehabilitation and intervention programmes are also offered to offenders on community sentences.

For more information about Corrections’ drug and alcohol interventions, visit

http://www.corrections.govt.nz/working_with_offenders/prison_sentences/employment_and_support_programmes/rehabilitation_programmes.html

* Not his real name

ENDS

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