Framing and reframing drug ‘problems’ in prison spaces and populations

Abstract

During the last 20–30 years, drug use and drug selling have emerged as prioritised ‘problems’ within many prison contexts around the world. Drug ‘problems’ in prisons are simultaneously framed as both problems of crime and control and problems of well-being and health, and the populations in prisons involved in drugs are framed as both criminal and in need of treatment. These frames often compete, conflict and converge with each other, but in the prison space, these conflicts and convergences within the drugs debate are intensified. Most countries have responded with dual policies consisting of offering drug treatment while at the same time imposing increasing control and disciplinary sanctioning for drug ‘transgressions’ whether this is related to use or trade. Drawing on the approach to framing developed by Rein and Schon (1993) and elaborated on by van Hulst and Yanow (2016), the different levels of framing are explored in this chapter, firstly by examining the international and national levels of framing of drug ‘problems’ in prison (i.e. framing from above) drawing on contemporary policy frameworks and then by considering the ways in which those imprisoned adapt and respond to these frames and how they frame and reframe their involvement with drug use and supply in prisons (i.e. framing from below).