Drug - related mortality among newly released offenders

T h e re is considerable concern about increasing rates of dru g related mortality in the UK. Evidence has suggested that recently released offenders are at a high risk of dying from dru g related causes. This study provides estimates of the rates of mortality amongst re c e n t l y released prisoners in England and Wales and provides some evidence of the risk factors associated with this group. The sampling exercise was undertaken prior to the implementation of the revised prison service drug strategy which brought in a considerable expansion in the provision of treatment and support for drug misusers.