Theme: Plenaries & invited speakers Year: 2025
The session examined the global coverage of harm reduction services in prisons, highlighting that access to core interventions such as needle and syringe programmes (NSP), opioid agonist therapy (OAT), and naloxone remains extremely limited worldwide despite markedly higher need and risk in custodial settings. It showcased innovations in prison‑based service delivery, including expanded OAT models, peer‑led and low‑threshold NSP approaches, and the use of vending machines to distribute syringes, condoms, and naloxone to reduce stigma and increase uptake. The presentation also addressed post‑release interventions, emphasising the high risk period following release from custody and the importance of continuity of care through timely access to OAT, HIV prevention and treatment, and overdose prevention supports to improve health outcomes during reintegration into the community.
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