A jungle python addicted to methamphetamine is one of hundreds of animals being rehabilitated at an Australian prison by staff and inmates.

The reptile, which the New South Wales Justice department did not name "due to legal reasons", was discovered during a police raid of a methamphetamine lab and required six weeks of detoxification while housed at the corrective services NSW wildlife care centre in Windsor, west of Sydney.

Ian Mitchell, a senior overseer at the John Morony correctional complex, said the python had absorbed the drug through its skin and as a result of its addiction it was more aggressive, confused and erratic and than normal.

"It just takes time for the drug to leave the snake’s system but through our assistance, we managed to calm it down after several months and bring it back to its routine feeding patterns," Mr Mitchell said.