Tobacco ban: Prison officers fear violence as nicotine patches run out
UPDATE: OFFICERS fear violence could explode again in Victoria’s jails as anger builds among nicotine-starved inmates and the price of cigarettes soars on the prison black market.
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UPDATE: PRISON officers fear violence could explode in Victoria’s jails as anger builds among nicotine-starved inmates.
After a smoking ban was brought in at the state’s 14 jails on July 1, eligible inmates were given daily access to nicotine patches, for 12 weeks.
But that supply officially ended six days ago. Only prisoners entering the system are now able to get access to that three-month supply.
It is understood that the prison black market rate for a single cigarette packet, $70-$80 in the weeks before the ban, is now as high as $1000.
Sources say inmates struggling to quit are “getting angry and restless”, and prison officers are “living in constant fear” of imminent violence.
“All the officers are on tenterhooks with the nicotine patch supply running out and prisoners scrambling over highly priced, banned cigarettes,” a source said.
“So many inmates were chain smokers.
“The patches were the only things keeping them calm.
“Implementing the ban has been a nightmare, especially with so many prisoners chopping up their patches and smoking them.”
Jail authorities have intercepted attempts to smuggle tobacco into jails, and sources say many inmates have fallen ill after microwaving or boiling the patches to try to release the nicotine in them.
Corrections Victoria Commissioner Jan Shuard today said the nicotine patches program had been carefully monitored.
“A lot of prisoners have already ceased, so it’s not everybody on the same date,” she told 3AW.
“It’s for 12 weeks, so some started earlier have taken themselves off the nicotine replacement therapy, some started later, so it’s a gradual reduction.”
A riot at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall in June, on the eve of the smoking ban, caused over $25 million worth of damage.
Up to 300 prisoners armed themselves with sticks, lit fires and smashed windows, leading to the evacuation of prison staff and visitors.
Some traumatised officers went on sick leave.
Police have taken more than 300 statements, but are yet to lay any charges.
The Herald Sun understands many of the inmates bashed in the riot have declined to help the investigation, fearing reprisals.
A Corrections Victoria spokesman confirmed that inmates who were in the prison system on July 1 were “now coming to the end of their entitlement” to nicotine patches.
“Many prisoners have already ceased their entitlement to access patches, or have decided to stop using patches of their own accord,” the spokesman said.
Each prison has been working with Quit Victoria to tailor programs, but sources say many prisoners are struggling.
Before the ban, 84 per cent of new inmates smoked, and 2800 of 6200 prisoners have attended quit programs.