"Cold Turkey" prisoners win settlement -sources

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) A group of six drug-addicted inmates and former prisoners are expected to be awarded out-of-court payments from the Home Office for what they say was ''cold turkey'' treatment in jail, legal sources said.

They argued that the short, sharp detoxification treatment in prison was a breach of their human rights.

Their group test case was due to have been heard in the High Court in London yesterday, but the Home Office agreed to a last minute out-of-court settlement, the sources added.

The terms of the agreement are not known, but it is believed it could open the way for up to another 200 cases.

No Home Office comment was immediately available.

The group of drug-addicted prisoners from prisons across Britain said they had not given consent and that their ''negligent'' treatment amounted to assault.

The prisoners all suffered from addiction to opiates such as heroin before and during their detention.

They said their alleged inappropriate treatment had left them suffering from withdrawal problems.

Their lawyer Richard Hermer had argued that many of the prisoners had been receiving treatment with methadone, a heroin substitute, before they entered prison and that they were upset at the short period of time they were allowed to continue using opiates after they were jailed.

The length of the prison terms have not been disclosed, nor has the nature of their crimes.

DrugScope, an independent charity which advises on drugs policy, said prisoners who are on methadone before going into jail could suffer a possible relapse if they go through rapid detoxification.

It said tackling drug-related crime had been a cornerstone of government policy, but that funds had been slashed.

The government has reduced funding this year from 28 million pounds to 12 million, it added.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: ''For many of the estimated 39,000 drug-using prisoners, prison can offer an opportunity to start the treatment journey.

''These cuts in spending jeopardise the future of effective prison drug treatment at a time when Home Office figures show reoffending rates are on the rise. A failure to tackle drug dependency among offenders risks repeating the cycle of drug use and crime.'' Reuters AD VP0552