Prevention of Drug-related Mortality after Release from Prison

Abstract

The transition process of release from prisons into the community is associated with high risks for users of opioids. Especially in the first 10-14 days in freedom, the risk of drug-related overdoses is extremely high, in the worst case with lethal outcome. There are two main medical strategies for the target group: on the one hand, medication-assisted treatment before, during and after incarceration, and on the other hand, edcuation about and acccess to naloxone as an antidote in case of opioid-related overdose. This article gives an overview of current numbers of drug-related deaths after release from prison in Germany and of scientific knowledge regarding the efficacy of medication-assisted treatment and naloxone provision for opioid users at the interface of custody and freedom. Finally, necessary interventions to avoid drug-related overdose with lethal consequences are described. For this purpose, a selective literature review was carried out and 16 crime agencies in Germany were contacted.