Prevalence of Newly Released Correctional Inmates Resulting in Fatal Overdoses

WEDNESDAY, July 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Almost 10 percent of fatal adult drug overdoses may involve recently released prison inmates, a new Canadian study suggests.

"This is the first Canadian study to examine overdose mortality rates by matching incarceration records with coroner reports after release," said study author Dr. Nav Persaud. He is a scientist with the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

"We were surprised at how high the fatal overdose rate was among those who were recently released from provincial custody -- almost 12 times higher than the general population," Persaud added.

Not only did one in 10 overdose deaths involve a recently released inmate, but the risk for a fatal overdose among inmates was found to be highest immediately following release, the study found.

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