CLIENT FEEDBACK FROM THE INFORMATION SESSIONS
•‘ I found it interesting and want to change over.’
•‘ I love the idea of this. It will be a game-changer, I just hope I can get on it.’
•‘ I think this will be great for being released. I also think it will help break the cycle.’
•‘ Very good that you can have this from an injection and I want this for myself and the trial run.’
•‘ I found it very helpful and informative. All questions and worries were answered. I feel completely at ease after the talk and would definitely go on [ it ] if I was given the opportunity.’
•‘ Very Important. A shame it’ s not everywhere in the community.’
•‘ It was very good. I want to go on it as soon as possible. It sounds something I’ d like to continue when I come out.’
For the clients who commenced PRB, the key workers supported them with a review within the week to assess any issues and identify solutions – for example around occupying their time or distraction techniques.
The plan now is that prescribers will attend weekly and review as needed, and PRB will be an agenda item on drug strategy meetings. New starters are reported on a spreadsheet so we can keep a continued record with feedback and the prescriber attends the service once a week to review prescriptions and administer doses. This is then followed up as required and as per prescription via the prescriber and nurses on site.
There are some clients who state they are feeling great, while another who had mental health issues before the transition feels the change of medication while accessing mental health medication has been a challenge.
The outcome in both prisons was favourable and the following recommendations were made: At Buckley Hall it was proposed to have treatments as an agenda item at drug strategy meetings, allowing the prison to be involved in the work and
OUTCOMES AND FEEDBACK
NAME
Prisoner 1 Start date 01 / 12 / 2021
Prisoner 2 Start date 01 / 12 / 2021
Prisoner 3 Start date 08 / 12 / 2021
Prisoner 4 Start date 08 / 12 / 2021
Prisoner 5 Start date 08 / 12 / 2021
Prisoner 6 Start date 22 / 12 / 2021
Prisoner 7 Start date 22 / 12 / 2021
Prisoner 8 Start date 05 / 01 / 2022
Prisoner 9 Start date 05 / 01 / 2022
Prisoner 10 Start date 05 / 01 / 2022
DOSAGE
raise awareness of progression in the DARS service; to improve awareness of PRB as an option of treatment with HMP service providers; and for clients to be reviewed on a regular basis in addition to the prescriber clinic.
Emerging evidence supports the economic viability of PRB usage in correctional contexts. Cost estimates from 2020 demonstrated that switching just 50 incarcerated individuals, in a standard English prison, from methadone to PRB would reduce overall costs by £ 8,665 and save more than 3,000 hours of staff time. A recent Canadian
Started on 8mg weekly.
Started on 64mg monthly. 2x 8mg weekly top ups. Increased to 96mg monthly.
Started on 96mg monthly. Would like to move back to the injection but on a higher dosage awaiting appointment with prescriber.
Started on 8mg weekly. Had 2nd weekly injection earlier.
Started on 164mg monthly.
Started on 8mg weekly. Early top up given on 05 / 01 / 2021.
Started on 8mg weekly.
Started on 24mg weekly.
Started on 16mg weekly.
Started on 16mg weekly.
FEEDBACK
Feels good and not having any cravings. Feels really positive, is liking the injection, feels that he has settled into getting the injection now.
No cravings at all, feels fine and debating whether to have the next injection. Feels so normal. Came to the IDTS hatch and talked to the other clients about how good he felt. Would like to move back onto oral buprenorphine as he feels that the injection is not working on him. This will be reviewed at his next prescriber appointment.
Has been experiencing some difficulties with his injections. He feels low in mood, already struggles with PTSD and is seeking support from mental health team. He has now moved back onto oral buprenorphine until he has a conversation with the prescriber regarding going on a higher dose of PRB.
Feels stable in his medication, felt that he must have his second jab earlier due to not feeling‘ right’, however has since felt okay.
Possible top-up – need to check with prescriber. His recovery practitioner has completed checkins to ensure that he is feeling okay. No issues reported and felt really good.
Stated that he feels okay, however did start to feel‘ a bit rough’ so asked for an early top-up this week.
No issues reported at this time.
Just started this week, no issues raised yet. Recovery practitioner to complete check in.
Just started this week, no issues raised yet. Recovery practitioner to complete check in.
Just started this week, no issues raised yet. Recovery practitioner to complete check in.
cost comparison between PRB injections and sublingual buprenorphine / naloxone identified that whilst PRB did cost more than buprenorphine / naloxone, the reduction in staff time in preparing, administering, dispensing, and monitoring meant that PRB was more cost-efficient.
Currently Scotland and Wales recommend, based on evidence of previous trials, switching over to PRB if cost-effective within the prison. While it is now standard practice within Wales to prescribe PRB as part of release planning, NHS England have not recommended it because of operational and continuity of care challenges.
Our non-randomised multicentre mixed-methods trial of PRB with psychosocial intervention adjuncts aims to assess the treatment outcomes of both maintenance and detoxification options in incarcerated populations in England. Delphi will continue with PRB in HMP Manchester and use the lessons learnt from Buckley Hall to improve client care on PRB.
Claire Illingworth is head of operations central at Delphi
WWW. DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS. COM MAY 2025 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 15