The Department of Corrections is cracking down on contraband in the country's prisons, released information reveals.
Figures obtained by the Otago Daily Times under the Official Information Act show the number of prisoners returning positive drug tests has declined from 456 (13.21%) in 2007 to (10.94%) in 2009.
For the 2010 financial year (to April), 258 (or 10.05%) prisoners, who are all subject to random testing, recorded positive results.
The department tested for alcohol, amphetamine-type substances, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, and methadone, but declined to release results by substance, Prison Services executive services manager Kelley Reeve said.
However, drug and alcohol use in prisons reflected patterns in the wider community, with cannabis, alcohol, methamphetamine and multiple drug addictions present among prisoners.
Ms Reeve said randomly selected prisoners were rigorously searched and were required to give a urine sample, alone, under the scrutiny of drug testers.
"Reducing both the supply and demand for drugs in prison is a major focus for the department," she said.
Prisoners returning positive drug tests or who were found with drugs were only allowed to have visits in non-contact booths, with visiting restricted for three months for the first offence, six months for the second and 12 months for the third.
A variety of methods were used to prevent drugs from entering prisons, including increased perimeter scrutiny, camera surveillance in prison visit rooms, the use of X-ray machines, background checks on visitors, a free tip-off line and specialist dog teams.
Some items, including cigarettes and hobby material, were forbidden from being posted or provided by visitors.
Visitors bringing fruit for prisoners was stopped before the 1970s as it was discovered drugs were being hidden inside, or combined with the food, she said.
The Corrections Amendment Act (No 2) 2009 gave the department additional search and detection powers, especially in relation to drugs and cellphones, and to stop prisoners sending crime-related letters.
The Act gives the department greater powers to undertake body searches (including the genital area and fat folds) and property searches, increase existing penalties, making tampering with a drug sample an offence, and allowing prisoners to be retested if a sample is believed to be tampered with.
In addition to controlling the supply of drugs, the department operated drug treatment units in seven prisons, including one at the Otago Corrections Facility opened by Corrections Minister Judith Collins earlier this week.
The number of prisoners at the units, increased from 115 in 2004-05 to 499 in 2008-09, with prisoners receiving residential-style drug and alcohol treatment increasing to 1000 by 2012.
Ms Collins said the units would help break the cycle of offending, by addressing prisoners' drug and alcohol issues, which were major drivers of crime.
