Three quarters of prison officers in Scotland fear repeated exposure to toxic drug fumes on the job is putting their health at risk.
Frontline staff say they inhale toxic smoke from illicit synthetic substances almost daily, with little or no protective gear amid the drug epidemic behind bars.
The Prison Officers Association (POA) is now calling for guards to be issued with appropriate equipment to safeguard against hazardous vapours when entering cells.
They are also urging the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to commission urgent research into the long-term impact of drug-contaminated air on staff.
Union bosses warn the issue is widespread with officers reporting side effects from inhaling second-hand smoke, especially psychoactive substances.
It comes in a report commissioned by the union, which delivers a scathing overall “state of the nation” assessment of the prison service.
The “Crisis Point Reached” survey highlights mounting safety fears among frontline staff, linking the drugs crisis to rising violence and instability behind bars.
In it, POA Scotland members were asked whether they were “concerned about being exposed to the effects of drugs used by prisoners and the impact on my health”, with 75% saying they agree or strongly agree, compared with just under 7% saying they were not concerned.
The report warns: “The scale of the problem and the currency of the ‘drugs business’ in prisons and the unpredictability of those under the influence make managing the situation very difficult.
“Prison officers report an evolving drugs scene which reflects the world outside of jail but which also recognises attempts by those who supply and use drugs to avoid detection.”
Drugs are smuggled in through a variety of routes, including visitors, returning prisoners concealing substances, items thrown over prison walls, drone deliveries, and, in some cases, corrupt staff.
According to the report, cannabis, cocaine and heroin were the main drugs present in Scotland’s jails prior to the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS),
In recent years, it says the focus has moved to synthetic cannabinoids (SPICE), benzodiazepines and opiates.
Passive exposure to the illegal substances, particularly in poorly ventilated cells, is said to cause dizziness, nausea, headaches and even neurological effects.
Previous research has found nearly 40% of inmates admitted to using illegal drugs while in prison.
The report highlights the growing volume of illegal drugs being smuggled into prisons and warns tackling the pipeline effectively must be a top priority for prison chiefs.
One officer said: “The level of substance misuse and illicit items being brought into the prison I work in is greater than at any time during my career in the prison service.”
Prison chiefs are accused of neglecting staff exposed to toxic drug fumes, amid claims those affected “didn’t get help and support”. Some were instead asked if they were dehydrated or “drinking enough water”.
Officers also raised concerns over driving home after being exposed to drug-laced fumes, saying it was “putting them at risk”.
And one revealed: “We have already had a staff member resign over these issues [drugs exposure]”.
Another said: “We should never be allowed to be exposed to vape smoke, let alone smoke containing substances that seriously impact our health. I mean, we get in our cars and have to drive home afterwards. This is just crazy.”
They added: “The prisons should ban vaping just like any other workplace.”
One prison officer claimed: “I have finished a shift, and helped out with my 2-year-old’s sleep routine by reading a story. Unknown to myself, I have inhaled legal high – I struggled with reading out basic words.”
Another stated: “SPS cannot tell us what the long-term health implications are of ingesting passive smoke from drugs misuse”, while one said they frequently “felt unwell” as a result of prisoners turning vapes into drug “tools”.
One said: “Staff who were affected by fumes from drugs didn’t get help and support, they were asked by managers if they were dehydrated and drinking enough water.”
An officer called for a nurse to be made available to “administer first aid, oxygen, etc., to staff should it be required”, adding: “It should not take a death or the administration of Naloxone before the welfare of staff becomes paramount.”
Since prisons went smoke-free in 2018, inmates have been allowed access to approved vaping products sold through prison shops.
A 2024 prisoner survey found 64% of inmates said they vaped – up almost a quarter from 40% the last time the survey was conducted in 2019.
One disgruntled officer told the “Crisis Point Reached” survey: “By providing vapes, SPS gave prisoners the tools to smoke drugs. Rules restricting their use to cells are rarely enforced.”
The report notes staff frustration over drug-fuelled violence and rising attacks on officers, along with doubts about the SPS’s ability to handle it.
One officer’s verdict was blunt: “SPS are useless in the detection and capture of these drugs and this puts huge pressure on staff day to day. The epidemic is only going to get worse.”
Data shows there have been more than 80 drug-related deaths in Scottish prisons since 2012.
The report calls for a policy review as well as increased NHS involvement, including 24/7 nursing support for drug-related incidents.
An SPS spokesperson said: “The health and wellbeing of our staff is a key priority, and we work hard to keep prisons safe and secure, using all available technology and intelligence, to prevent illicit substances entering our establishments.
“We continue to work with Police Scotland, and other partners, to take action against those who attempt to breach our security.”
