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Article published in the Prison Service Journal in 1998 Drug-free Health Care for Prisoners Maureen Mulligan is the Director of Complementary Medical Services for Prisoners. Complementary Medical Services for Prisoners (CMSP) provides a range of services in a number of Prison Service establishments. This article provides a brief introduction to the philosophy behind this distinctive treatment approach, and after describing the work that we are currently doing for the Prison Service, outlines some of our future development plans. Treatment Philosophy We work to promote health, self-esteem and quality of life for people in prison. Our therapeutic principles promote the patient's responsibility to himself, and are based on the Law of Cure. We believe that conventional (or allopathic) drugs, which are used to manipulate a patient's chemistry, control and suppress behavioural patterns, create dependency and leave the problem of violence frozen in time. By contrast, natural medicines co-work with the patient's life force and activate the defence system which permits the restoration of health. Treatment Programmes It is our aim to improve the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health of our clients. We work to reduce the demand for medication, the rate of re-offending, and levels of stress-related aggression towards staff and between prisoners. We also seek to provide prisoners with the skills to address low self-esteem. We have been working in prisons for 12 years. We began at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, working with lifers and remand prisoners. Here we were able to spend three years focusing on prisoners with addictive behaviours. We currently offer three distinct treatment programmes. The Integrated Complementary Medical Treatment Programme (ICMTP) is a comprehensive 12 week programme aimed at addressing patterns of control, violence and addiction. It includes regular complementary medical treatment, including cranial resonance and osteopathy (the application of non-intrusive pressure to the bones of the cranium), acupuncture and vibrational medicine. This is supplemented with one-to-one counselling, group therapy, Tai Chi Chuan, meditation and art and music therapy. A Crisis Intervention programme aims to provide drug-free treatment to prisoners with behaviour disorders, stress states and those at risk of suicide and self-harm. It is also helpful for those suffering from anxiety, insomnia, migraine, backache, digestive disorders and mood swings. It relies on many of the same treatment methods as the ICMTP. The Addiction programme involves teamwork between conventional medical practitioners and CMSP. Allopathic drugs are gradually replaced by natural remedies over a period of a week, in order to stabilise the patient and address chemical imbalances, sleep disturbances, stress and associated emotional and mental states. The addictive tendencies are treated with the use of cranial resonance, vibrational medicine, acupuncture and Reflexology. Does it work? CMSP operates an ongoing research and evaluation programme. We engage in internal clinical audit, as well as specific clinical trials. Our initial results were discussed at a recent conference at the Royal Society of Medicine, opened by Sir David Ramsbotham., HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. Staff Training In addition to providing treatment for prisoners, we provide training for prison staff who are interested in working in this area. The training includes complementary medical techniques. It is person-centred, and as well as training in a new skill, it offers the opportunity for personal growth and development. The courses are licensed by the European Cranial and Complementary Medical Association (for practitioners working within Prisons), and successful students will be eligible to join the CMSP register. The Future A training centre has been established in county Wicklow, Ireland. This will enable practitioners, conventional medical staff, prison staff and prisoners to discover more about complementary medicine. It will also provide a centre of excellence for visits from the growing number of overseas groups and governments interested in our drug-free method of tackling offending. In 2001 CMSP will hold an international conference for complementary medical practitioners working in prisons and the general community. Anyone wishing to attend or contribute material please email mulligan@unison.ie or phone Ireland 045404584. Anybody wishing to know more about our work or to take up the opportunities for staff training outlines above should contact CMSP Ireland on 00353 45404584, e-mail: mulligan@unison.ie or via the contact page on this site. © Maureen Mulligan 1999 The following article was published in 'Enlightened Times' in Click on the topic areas below to navigate: Conference Clinic Contact Courses Euro Home Acknowledgements Links
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