Revolving Doors welcomes Justice Select Committee report on drugs in prison
Revolving Doors has welcomed the publication of the Justice Select Committee’s report on the use of drugs in prison, which echoes many of the recommendations made in our submission to the enquiry.
Our submission was based on the lived experiences of our members and shoed that prison is a catastrophic environment to be placed in for anyone trying to avoid drugs or caught in a cycle of problematic drug use.
In our evidence, we highlighted that:
- Drug use in prison cannot be separated from the wider cycle of trauma, mental ill-health, and disadvantage that drives offending.
- Punitive responses to addiction often exacerbate harm, particularly for people with complex needs.
- Effective responses must focus on treatment, recovery and continuity of care between prison and the community.
- Peer support and lived experience workers are crucial to engagement and long-term recovery.
We are pleased that the Committee’s report recognises these same priorities, calling for a shift from punitive enforcement to evidence-based, health-led approaches. The report’s emphasis on improving access to treatment, continuity of care on release and better data on outcomes is particularly welcome.
However, the report also underlines how much work remains to be done. Investment in addiction treatment and recovery pathways across both prisons and community settings remains inconsistent, and too many people are still being failed by fragmented services and short-term funding.
Revolving Doors will continue to work with government, Parliament, and partners to ensure the Committee’s recommendations lead to real change. We will keep amplifying the voices of people with lived experience to help shape a system that treats addiction as a health issue, not a moral failing — breaking the cycle of drug use, reoffending and disadvantage.
Revolving Doors Chief Executive Pavan Dhaliwal said:
“We welcome the Justice Committee’s recognition that drug use in prison must be addressed through compassion, continuity, and connection. The evidence is clear: when people receive proper treatment and support, they recover — and they stop reoffending.”
Read our original submission to the Justice Select Committee here:
