former prisoner. His tale provides a shocking insight into the drugs problem at Westgate "There are always drugs in prison.'' If anyone is in a position to make this statement it's Eric (not his real name).

In and out of prison and on and off drugs for the last 30-odd years, he said it was time prison authorities took the problem seriously, but claimed some officers were involved in the narcotics trade.

"Prison officers bring it in. There are normally two or three doing it. You give them $50 and say buy X, Y or Z. You give them a phone number.'' But even for those without a special connection, there are drops outside prison and visitors to keep the flow of narcotics steady.

"Guys go out to work outside and make the connection there, or it's hidden in flower beds immediately outside prison,'' said Eric.

"They pick it up when they're working out there.

"There are always between ten and 25 people doing heroin on a regular basis.

"People might go into prison as occasional marijuana users and end up on coke or heroin.'' And those nearing release encounter even more drugs at the Prison Farm, he continued.

"Sniffer dogs are sometimes used but they should use them more. They check in areas where the guys are working.

"Harder drugs are easier to smuggle in than bulky marijuana.

"The drugs increase over holidays and celebrations like Cup Match and there are more searches and testing to counter it.'' Under-the-counter transfers from visiting friends and relatives are a time-honoured way of getting narcotics in, noted Eric.

"I would get a table at the back and face the officers so I could see when the coast was clear. Then it would be handed under the table.'' And, as a man who used to lie awake at night planning how to get drugs into prison, Eric has also hit on ways to stem the drug influx.

Families always seeking a table away at the back of the room should be watched closely, he said. And prisoners caught with drugs passed during family visits should be restricted to closed visits where they talk to visitors from behind a screen, suggested Eric.

But in spite of his years in jail, which might have made many a prisoner very cynical, Eric isn't one to readily point the finger of blame.

He pointed out that prison officers do their best to keep an eye on things, but short staffing makes proper monitoring of the drug situation difficult.

"The drug situation is really pathetic, but they do what they can.

"Prisons can only work with what they have.'' Under staffing is a big problem, said Eric.

"If prison officers are doing double shifts they are going to be under par.

They'll turn a blind eye rather than go and investigate if they smell marijuana.

"We need a change in the mentality of the officers. Currently they just want to turn the key.

"It's changed from Casemates prison to Westgate Correctional Facility. The name would signify that they wanted to change that which was wrong, but a lot of plans have not come to fruition,'' said Eric.

"We need more case workers. There's only two for 150 inmates and there's only one social worker. They need more counsellors in prison. There's so much more they can do.

Westgate drug problems exposed "The programme for combating drug addiction leaves a lot to be desired.

"Of around 150 inmates, only ten to 15 are on programmes to get off drugs and, of those, only three to four are serious about getting off.

"Around 60 to 70 percent of guys in prison are in there for drug-related crime, such as forging cheques or snatching handbags to get cash for drugs.

"When they sentence someone it's often with the proviso they have to get help but it should be mandatory for them to attend drug rehab,'' said Eric.

"It's an opportunity to help them identify why they use drugs and to see the danger of those drugs. There should be automatic drugs testing because if it comes up positive you can work toward a solution.'' Eric suggested remission should only be given for offenders with drugs problems if they are taking a genuine part in a programme to quit.

But he pointed out: "A lot of guys do programmes just to get parole. They're not doing it for themselves, it's just to look good in front of the parole board.'' Officers are trained to spot signs of heroin withdrawal, said Eric.

"They take a urine sample and put the prisoner in segregation if they test positive. They'll lose remission time when they are brought before the treatment board of offenders.

"It's all fine and dandy to punish them, but when they have lost all their remission they don't care and they get rebellious,'' he noted.

"They'll continue the same behaviour and do drugs whenever it's available.

"They should be monitored. If they make changes, they should be given back the remission.'' He suggested Casemates could be reopened to house hardcore prisoners with the free space used to set up a segregated unit for those serious at beating their addiction.

"They should live together so they can go through the programme together and support each other. It would need to be very rigid and strict,'' said Eric.

Cash for the project could be found by giving foreign prisoners early parole, he continued.

"It costs $44,000 a year to keep someone in prison. We could be using that to make better programmes.

"If a guy has an eight-year sentence he's eligible for parole after four.

Give it to him. Send him back. That's $176,000. It could be much better used.'' Not surprisingly for someone whose life has been a testimony to the failings of the revolving door system, Eric is vocal on the need to devote more effort to help ex-cons.

He said they face a tough battle assimilating into a society all too willing to stigmatise them despite the help given by what he describes as good educational programmes inside Westgate. "Two out of ten make it. That's two guys coming out of the system and not being part of the recidivism rate.

"Some come out saying they are not going to go to Court Street or drink,'' said Eric.

"They do a lot of looking for work, but society doesn't want to give them a hand or help them so they fall back into their comfortable behaviour patterns and they go back to their old ways.

"The onus is on the community to try and assist that individual in any way they can.'' A haven for drugs?: Westgate Correctional Facility