There is no doubt that in US and UK prisons, needles are a widespread problem and major health risk. The risk of sharps injury is high since needles are not permitted and will be hidden in all sorts of places. Prison staff will be required to search for and confiscate them, to reduce the incidence of needle sharing and eliminate their use as weapons.

Who supplies the needles, and the drugs that go with them is a matter of some debate and is not for the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum. However, we can say that the prison population has a high rate of BBV carriage making the risk of seroconversion after sharps injury considerably greater than in most other circumstances.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) representing 10,000 US public prison officers has reaffirmed its opposition to a proposal to trial a prison needle exchange. It stays silent on the question of who facilitate access to drugs in prison, who is turning a blind eye, and what to do about the public health issues of needle string etc. It may be a disciplinary issue, but if drugs and needles are so readily available in prison it may as well be managed to prevent further mis-use and minimize dangers to prison staff.

The problem exists, it may as well be recognised and managed properly.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-28/union-member-resigns-over-needles-in-prison-issue/3026508

see also:  Dolan K, Rutter S, Wodak AD. Prison-based syringe exchange programmes: a review of international research and development. Addiction 2003; 98(2): 153-8