The introduction of barbiturates and tranquilizers has increased the tendency to use drugs to solve the problems of patients, including prisoners. The prisons are grossly overcrowded and have many other problems. The misuse of drugs under these circumstances is thus not surprising. Both prisoners and ex-prisoners have complained that drugs are used to control prisoners who are viewed by staff as troublemakers or difficult to control. Data from one woman's prison in 1979 indicated that at least one-third of the prisoners were regularly receiving major tranquilizers. Other reports have confirmed a high use of drugs, although the use has declined in the past few years. However, this decline has been accompanied by an increase in the use of physical restraints and other restrictions. Moreover, some patients needing drugs do not receive them, and drugs sometimes cause problems instead of solving them. However, doctors working in prisons must perform under extremely difficult conditions. Making the prison medical service part of the National Health Service would benefit both the doctors and the prisoners.