Substance use related mortality among persons recently released from correctional facilities

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Recently released persons (RRP) from incarceration are at a higher-than-average risk of mortality post-incarceration. Additionally, the pervasiveness of substance use problems among incarcerated persons and lack of treatment both before and after release suggests substance use-related mortality is an especially concerning problem for persons recently released from incarceration.

Method: In this study, we examine associations between substance-use related mortality among a national sample of RRP from correctional facilities (N = 1,432).

Results: Our study highlights several significant associations between substance-use related mortality among RRP, including homicide and legal intervention as the manner of death. Persons in racial/ethnic minority groups, having a substance use and alcohol problem, and having a high school diploma/GED also resulted in significant higher likelihood of substance-use related mortality.

Discussion: These results underscore the need for professionals to assess for substance use behaviors prior to release and coordinate referral for care post-release.

KEYWORDS:

• Substance use
• mortality
• release from incarceration
• criminal justice

Author Note

We have no known conflict of interest to disclose.

Data availability statement

This research use data from NVDRS, a surveillance system designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The findings are based, in part, on the contributions of the funded states and territories that collected violent death data and the contributions of the states’ partners, including personnel from law enforcement, vital records, medical examiners/coroners, and crime laboratories. The analyses, results, and conclusions presented here represent those of the authors and not necessarily reflect those of the CDC. Persons interested in obtaining data files from NVDRS should contact CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, MS F-64, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, (800) CDC-INFO (232-4636).