Revealed: Drug-ridden mental health hospitals call sniffer dogs more than 1,300 times in just two years
- In 42% of cases dogs uncovered drugs, such as cocaine, as well as crack pipes
- Mental health charity says these drugs can interact with psychiatric medications
Illegal drugs are so rife in mental health hospitals that sniffer dogs are being routinely called to uncover patients’ illicit stashes.
From 2020 to 2022 drug-detecting dogs were brought onto wards 1,373 times, according to a survey of mental health hospitals in England.
In 42 per cent of cases the canines uncovered drugs, including cocaine and cannabis joints, as well as paraphernalia such as crack pipes.
Although most hospitals rely on local police to bring in sniffer dogs, one mental health trust in the north west of England employs two of its own canine handlers.
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust brought its first narcotics search dog onboard in 2013 to carry out targeted and random searches.
From 2020 to 2022 drug-detecting dogs were brought onto wards 1,373 times (Stock image)
A spokesperson for Mind, a mental health charity, explained that recreational drugs can interact with psychiatric medications (Stock image)
The Trust now has two sniffer dogs, named Sid and Indy who are springer spaniels.
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The four-legged staff are trained to freeze and stare at the scent of cannabis, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy.
In the last two years staff at the Trust let Sid and Indy loose 421 times, with 219 finds registered.
None of the 31 Trusts responding to the freedom of information survey said a patient had been arrested in the last two years as a result of a sniffer dog visit.
However, drug finds are often passed onto police for testing to build intelligence on narcotics supplies.
An employee at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust explained: ‘This is generally for the reasons that service users are already detained under the Mental Health Act.
‘Additionally, substances are often considered ‘for personal use’ and will not lead to Police attendance despite reports being submitted.’
A spokesperson for Mind, a mental health charity, explained that recreational drugs can interact with psychiatric medications.
For example, clozapine and olanzapine – both drugs prescribed for patients with schizophrenia – can be muted in their effects by cannabis use.
Rheian Davies, Head of Legal at Mind, said: ‘If overused, sniffer dogs and police in mental health wards can be counter therapeutic.
‘Therefore, hospitals should carefully weigh their use against the impact on the ward and the people who are being treated there.’
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