Help for substance abuse problems

After you arrive in prison, a nurse will invite you to an arrival check. The next step is a more thorough arrival interview and an assessment of your working and functioning capacity.

In the arrival interview, we will talk about your substance use and assess your substance addiction and need for rehabilitation. We will also tell you about the effects and health risks of intoxicating substances and the rehabilitation available in and outside prison. The supervision and specialist staff of the prison as well as the health care staff will keep you updated about the rehabilitation possibilities in the prison during your whole prison term.

When needed, you may start medical detoxification to support your withdrawal. Possible withdrawal symptoms are treated according to the instructions of the physician working in the prison. If you have severe withdrawal symptoms, you can be sent to the Prison Hospital or a public hospital.

Possible illnesses linked to your substance abuse problems will be treated in the prison polyclinic or in the Prison Hospital run by the Health Care Services for Prisoners (vth.fi) . In some cases, you can also be treated a public hospital outside the prison. The staff of the Health Care Services for Prisoners are bound by the same non-disclosure and secrecy obligation as the health care staff working elsewhere. They can give information on your health to members of the prison staff only if you have given your written consent

Help for abstinence from substances

If your sentence plan includes a goal to address your substance abuse problems, you will be guided to see an instructor responsible for the substance abuse work. You can also ask yourself to get an appointment to discuss your substance use. After your meeting with the instructor, the staff will discuss what kind of substance abuse rehabilitation would benefit you.

The prison arranges short motivational programmes, which aim to give you information and motivate you to change. Longer group programmes include tasks and discussions that support a life without crime and intoxicating substances. In addition to group rehabilitation, you can also get individual rehabilitation. You can also have individual discussions along with group programmes.

Preventing health risks

The prisons provide health education and encourage the use of protection in order to prevent HIV and hepatitis infections. We aim to detect possible HIV and hepatitis infections as early as possible by using voluntary tests. You can get a free vaccine for hepatitis A and B if you at a high risk of getting the infection.

Peer groups

You can take part in peer group activities in several prisons. The peer group activities help you to build a social network that supports a life without crime and intoxicating substances. All involved are committed to advance each other to gain the goal and prevent each other from relapsing into substance abuse. The peer group activities are arranged by, among others, AA and NA groups.

Placement in an institution outside prison

You may be placed in a substance treatment or rehabilitation institution outside the prison for six months at most if necessary.

Your sentence plan has to include a statement regarding your placement in an outside institution, otherwise it will not be possible. We will negotiate with your home municipality about your placement institution, follow-up care after your release and other necessary measures promoting your coping in freedom.