A NEW initiative aims to give prisoners a better chance at a successful, drug-free life after release. National Security officials met with senior prison officers yesterday to launch the HMP Challenge Drug Therapy Programme, which is expected to "aggressively address" substance abuse amongst the prison population. The programme is being billed as a major step forward in getting at the roots of the prison drug epidemic, and is part of the government's five-year National Anti-Drug Strategy launched three weeks ago. The strategy describes the prison as a "pivotal setting for rigorous treatment and rehabilitation programmes" which aim to curb demand and prepare inmates for re-integration into society. The new, more aggressive focus comes after research revealed that almost 80 per cent of new admissions to Her Majesty's Prison enter the facility with drugs in their system. "Until now, the prison had offered a programme of substance abuse education to vulnerable inmates. Clearly this was not enough," National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest said. "Today's launch, therefore, for the first time, represents a major step forward in getting at the foundation of substance abuse. "The Challenge Programme operates on the belief that substance abuse and criminal behaviour come as a result of distancing oneself from society. "In this regard, the evidence suggests that inmates who live in an area specifically designed with intense interventions, tend to internalise pro-social behaviour as opposed to anti-social conduct." Prisoners must volunteer to participate in the programme, which has six components and three levels - orientation, core treatment and the transition stage. It takes inmates 9-12 months to complete the treatment. "The programme focuses on the development of cognitive and problem-solving skills, life and anger management skills, relapse prevention and rejection of criminal lifestyles," Mr Turnquest said. He said the Challenge Programme is part of an "ongoing and wide in scope" Prison reform and rehabilitation effort launched by the government in 2007. "The rehabilitation thrust at Her Majesty's Prison has encompassed inmate classification (which ensures inmates with similar risks and inclinations are housed together); proper sentence planning; a wide range of technical, vocational and academic programmes; attitude adjustment and behaviour modification programmes; a day work release programme, as well as a faith-based initiative," Mr Turnquest said. "We began in 2007 by introducing the Inmate Discharge Certificate, which for focused, repentant inmates, serves as a countermeasure to the Police Character Certificate. We have regularised payment for part-time instructors in our technical/vocational instructional programme which has led to a doubling of course offerings available to inmates. "Additionally, we have expanded the Extramural Work Release Programme and recommenced the Intramural Work Programme. "For the past four years, Her Majesty's Prison has held successful student anti-crime rallies with the assistance of inmates, to sensitise young people about the need to lead drug free and crime free lives as part of our deterrent and prevention programmes. "We are firmly of the belief that it is easier to bring about change by uplifting and educating inmates, rather than by dehumanising them," Mr Turnquest said.