SHAAP Briefing
Key messages
● Alcohol is the forgotten crisis for those in the justice system – 63% of people in prison have
alcohol use disorder and 40% of prisoners were drunk at the time of their offence with 41%
who would accept help if offered. Yet the treatment gap is massive: only 167 individuals
(roughly 1.1% of the prison population) were referred to specialist alcohol services in 2024-25.
● Continuity of care is inconsistent and inequalities persist: the risk of death from alcohol causes
is three times higher in men and nine times higher for women who have been in prison than for
the general population.
● SHAAP endorses the Committee’s recommendations and calls on the Scottish Government to
implement them in full and deliver a National Service Specification with clear standards for
alcohol treatment in justice settings.
Read the full briefing report below.
Criminal Justice Committee Inquiry into Substance Misuse in Prisons
February 2026