Urine testing of prisoners, both on a random basis, to establish base levels, and on a targeted basis.

The provision of methadone to prisoners who are classified by a medical officer as addicts.

Providing for non-contact visits between prisoners and their visitors where an attempt to smuggle drugs into the prison has been proven.

Providing pocketless clothing for prisoners during visits where smuggling has been suspected.

Searching all prisoners after visits.

Providing intensive drug treatment programs for prisoners who volunteer to participate.

Providing education and public-awareness programs on the dangers and consequences of illicit drug use and trafficking.

That is already a fairly long list, but that is not all. I understand that our new prison will also use low-level X-ray surveillance equipment, not unlike that used in airports, to scan all people entering the facility. This will detect all metal objects, even if hidden in body cavities, including the metal needle of a plastic syringe. This equipment will make it unnecessary to impose the indignity of strip-searching on suspected traffickers.

With such an array of procedures and equipment all aiming to keep drugs out of prison, it would seem to me to be illogical in the extreme for the correctional authorities to provide syringes to make the injection of drugs safer for the users. If we do that, why don't we also provide the actual drugs to ensure that they too are quite safe?

I am not suggesting that genuine addicts should be left to come off drugs without assistance and support. Cold turkey detoxification is a thing of the past, now medical staff are able to predict the sequence of unpleasant symptoms likely to be suffered by addicts when they are deprived of drugs. Initially, there will be extreme agitation and stress that can be treated with sedatives. Then there will probably be acute headaches, followed by nausea, which can each be treated as they occur.

After that, intensive counselling, together with dietary advice and a program of vigorous physical activity will almost certainly be needed, and if all of that fails there is always the option of methadone.

The fact that the battle against addiction can be won is illustrated by the dramatic reduction in the prevalence of smoking throughout Australia over the past two or more decades. I am reliably informed nicotine addiction is much more difficult to break than addiction to heroin, cocaine or other drugs.

Probably the most important weapon available in the establishment and maintenance of a drug-free prison in Canberra is the newly trained and enthusiastic staff of custodial officers, most of whom have not become cynical and defeatist by working in other prison systems. Good custodial officers get to know the prisoners in their care and should be able to see the signs of drug taking if it occurs. They can then report their suspicions to senior staff for appropriate action. Their union is apparently opposed to needle exchange in prisons, but the justification for this opposition seems to me to be more selfish than altruistic.

The custodial officers will be supported by a range of professional staff, including doctors and nurses, welfare officers, industry supervisors, education and therapeutic program officers, all of whom will be motivated to reduce the probability of reoffending of our prisoners in order to make a positive contribution to the safety and wellbeing of the broader community. That will not be achieved if the message is given that drug taking is normal and acceptable behaviour, even in prison.

David Biles is a consultant criminologist and professorial associate in corrections at Charles Sturt University.