Discover our other sites:

You might be looking for...

THIS CONTENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY University of Oslo - read more

For 'Amalie,' going to prison was devastating. But it helped her get sober

“It should be the state’s responsibility to ensure that people don’t leave prison worse off than when they entered it," says researcher.

Inmate standing in a prison corridor near barred windows and a closed door.

To investigate how substance abuse treatment units work, researcher Rose Lunde spoke with staff and inmates in Norwegian prisons. Here is an inmate in Romerike Prison, Ullersmo ward.

(Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB)

Maud Hol Maud Hol Communications ADVISER

Presented by: Presented by: University of Oslo

Published 23 May 2026 - 00:01

We call her Amalie, but that's not her real name.

When Amalie woke up in prison after her arrest, she realised she needed help. Her life had been chaotic for a long time.

As a teenager, she started drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis.

Over time, she started taking amphetamines, heroin, and other drugs while she was working in the hospitality industry.

Quitting is often a painful process

Amalie’s story mirrors the experiences of many other prisoners.

“Quitting drugs and crime is often a painful process,” says researcher Rose Lunde.

She has studied drug recovery in Norwegian prisons. Amalie was serving time in a high-security women's prison at the time, and became one of the participants Lunde interviewed during her doctoral research.

Portrait photo — Researcher Rose Lunde has researched substance abuse treatment in Norwegian prisons. Amalie was incarcerated and was one of the participants Lunde spoke to while working on her doctoral thesis.

Everything was amplified in prison

The atmosphere was unstable and turbulent. Amalie witnessed several violent incidents.

She withdrew socially and grew sceptical of both staff and fellow inmates. A lack of meaningful activities further diminished her quality of life.

Things began to change when she was transferred to a low-security prison with a dedicated drug recovery unit.

She got to practice a life without drugs

Amalie participated in a therapeutic programme, had conversations with a psychologist, exercised regularly, and received closer follow-up from staff.

Together with a member of staff in civilian clothing, she was granted shorter periods of leave to meet family members, attend appointments, visit cafés, and generally practise living without drugs.

For the first time in a long while, Amalie could imagine a future beyond her release. A life that seemed both frightening and exciting.

Whether you need treatment matters less

Drug-related crimes make up the majority of prison sentences carried out in Norway, whilst the correctional services also provide drug recovery services.

“What surprised me is that your actual need for treatment does not necessarily determine what you receive,” Lunde says.

The researcher examined how addiction measures during imprisonment actually function in practice.

There are guidelines for who should receive the offer

Lunde says that the Norwegian correctional services are proud of their drug recovery units, and with good reason. There are also guidelines for who should receive these services.

Lunde’s research also shows that access to these services vary depending on the local culture of the prison and on the subjective assessments of various criteria by the staff.

Not all inmates are granted the same opportunities – in fact, it requires a bit of luck to be 'in the right place at the right time.'

Amalie was one of the lucky ones. But not everyone is as fortunate.

The ‘ideal’ client

One of Lunde’s main findings concerns who is thought of as an ‘ideal’ client for such programmes.

Gender, use of medications, language skills, and the type of prison you are serving your sentence in all affect the level of access. Applicants must also be ‘sufficiently motivated’ in the eyes of staff.

“A lot of things have to be in order before you even have the opportunity to apply for a place on one of these drug recovery units,” says Lunde.

Sexual offences are heavily stigmatised

And it is not necessarily the sickest or most vulnerable who receive help.

The length of one’s sentence, offending history, and the existing dynamics of the unit all play a role in determining who gets a place.

Sexual offences, in particular, are highly stigmatised.

This means that people convicted of such offences are generally not considered a suitable fit, with few exceptions.

‘Waffle imprisonment’

For people like Amalie, who have been granted a place on one of these units, everyday life is often perceived as both different and better than on ordinary prison units.

Some of Lunde’s participants referred to these units as being ‘waffle imprisonment.’ It refers to an overly privileged or ‘soft’ environment without the same ‘tough’ qualities of typical prison life.

These units did provide an upgrade from ordinary imprisonment – better food, increased freedoms, and greater opportunities to practice a drug-free life outside in the community.

But it's not a sanctuary free from demands.

The price is increased surveillance

“For some people, following such a regime can be very challenging. The price you pay is a form of increased surveillance,” explains Lunde.

Prisoners on these units are expected to share their feelings in groups with both staff and other inmates.

“In a regular prison, you often have to be tough to survive. Here, you need to do the opposite. You have to be vulnerable,” she says.

Several of Lunde’s participants appreciated the emphasis on change and self-work, as well as the more frequent drug tests and other measures that kept the environment comparatively drug-free.

Regardless, it was acknowledged that this type of imprisonment was far more challenging than serving time on a regular unit and simply ‘counting down’ the days until release.

Many fell through the cracks

For Amalie, the transition from the chaotic environment of regular prison to the structure of the drug recovery unit was crucial.

She received therapy, support, and tools to help her prepare for life after prison.

However, it is not a given that everyone in Amalie’s situation is offered the same kind of support. In fact, many prisoners with significant drug use problems fall outside the services currently on offer.

The correctional service is under pressure

Despite the Norwegian prison model often being hailed internationally as a success story, Lunde describes a system under pressure.

Due to a lack of funding and understaffing, many drug recovery units are, in practice, run more like ordinary prison units.

It is also difficult to say how effective such programmes are when there are other significant barriers to recovery.

“It should be the state’s responsibility to ensure that people don’t leave prison worse off than when they entered it. Providing treatment for people with drug use disorders, including those in prison, is not just good criminal justice policy, but good public health policy,” Lunde says.

Reference:

Lunde, R.E. (P)rehab and Punishment. Drug Treatment, Therapeutic Intervention and Hybrid Penality in Prison, Doctoral thesis at the University of Oslo, 2025.