AIMS: To assess if 15-35-year-old males released after 14 + days' imprisonment in Scotland, 1996-99, had a higher drugs-related death rate in 2 weeks after release than during subsequent 10 weeks; higher than expected death rate from other causes; and if drugs-related deaths in the first fortnight were three times as many as prison suicides. DESIGN: Confidential linkage of ex-prisoner database against deaths. SETTING: Scotland's male prisons and young offenders' institutions during July to December 1996-99; 19 486 index releases after 14+ days' incarceration. MEASUREMENTS: Relative risk of drugs-related death in the first 2 weeks after release (34 deaths) versus subsequent 10 weeks (23). Other causes of death (21) relative to expectation. Drugs-related deaths in first 2 weeks after release relative to suicides in prison (12). FINDINGS: Drugs-related mortality in 1996-99 was seven times higher (95% CI: 3.3-16.3) in the 2 weeks after release than at other times at liberty and 2.8 times higher than prison suicides (95% CI: 1.5-3.5) by males aged 15-35 years who had been incarcerated for 14+ days. We estimated one drugs-related death in the 2 weeks after release per 200 adult male injectors released from 14 + days' incarceration. Non-drugs-related deaths in the 12 weeks after release were 4.9 times (95% CI: 2.8-7.0) the 4.3 deaths expected. CONCLUSION: Investment in, and evaluation of, prison-based interventions is needed to reduce substantially recently released drugs-related deaths.
AIMS: To assess if 15-35-year-old males released after 14 + days' imprisonment in Scotland, 1996-99, had a higher drugs-related death rate in 2 weeks after release than during subsequent 10 weeks; higher than expected death rate from other causes; and if drugs-related deaths in the first fortnight were three times as many as prison suicides. DESIGN: Confidential linkage of ex-prisoner database against deaths. SETTING: Scotland's male prisons and young offenders' institutions during July to December 1996-99; 19 486 index releases after 14+ days' incarceration. MEASUREMENTS: Relative risk of drugs-related death in the first 2 weeks after release (34 deaths) versus subsequent 10 weeks (23). Other causes of death (21) relative to expectation. Drugs-related deaths in first 2 weeks after release relative to suicides in prison (12). FINDINGS: Drugs-related mortality in 1996-99 was seven times higher (95% CI: 3.3-16.3) in the 2 weeks after release than at other times at liberty and 2.8 times higher than prison suicides (95% CI: 1.5-3.5) by males aged 15-35 years who had been incarcerated for 14+ days. We estimated one drugs-related death in the 2 weeks after release per 200 adult male injectors released from 14 + days' incarceration. Non-drugs-related deaths in the 12 weeks after release were 4.9 times (95% CI: 2.8-7.0) the 4.3 deaths expected. CONCLUSION: Investment in, and evaluation of, prison-based interventions is needed to reduce substantially recently released drugs-related deaths.
Authors: Javier A Cepeda; Marina V Vetrova; Alexandra I Lyubimova; Olga S Levina; Robert Heimer; Linda M Niccolai Journal: Int J Prison Health Date: 2015
Authors: Josiah D Rich; Amy E Boutwell; David C Shield; R Garrett Key; Michelle McKenzie; Jennifer G Clarke; Peter D Friedmann Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2005-05-25 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Ingrid A Binswanger; Marc F Stern; Richard A Deyo; Patrick J Heagerty; Allen Cheadle; Joann G Elmore; Thomas D Koepsell Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2007-01-11 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Javier A Cepeda; Linda M Niccolai; Alexandra Lyubimova; Trace Kershaw; Olga Levina; Robert Heimer Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2014-12-02 Impact factor: 4.492