First results from the EU-funded project NPS-PRISON

The aim of NPS-PRISON is to assess the prevalence of NPS use in prisons located in Germany, Poland and Hungary by comprehensive urine analyses and qualitative social research. On the basis of the type of drugs detected and the results of qualitative structured interviews conducted with employees in the penal system, a strategy including modular trainings for penal system professionals as well as detainees will be developed to reduce NPS use and related harms. This kind of intervention will be applied in prisons and the effectiveness will be assessed on the basis of detecting changes in NPS use prevalence as indicated by repeated urine analyses and the results of qualitative structured interviews conducted after the intervention.