Hard and soft drugs are found in prisons world wide. They are smuggled in by visitors and by staff and have replaced tobacco as the currency.

It is suggested that some connivance by the Prison Authority occurs as prisoners stupefied by drugs are more malleable, less violent, less likely to break out.

There are particular problems with injectable drugs where needles are shared communally, are in short supply and rarely disinfected. The Prison Authority finds it difficult to admit that drugs are circulating freely for it is an adverse comment upon Prison security and discipline.

It is therefore difficult to provide cleansing materials-like bleach, a needle exchange scheme or even free condoms where the authorities deny that drugs are injected or sodomy occurs.