Premium
Substance use and risk of death in young offenders: A prospective data linkage study
Author(s) -
Kinner Stuart A.,
Degenhardt Louisa,
Coffey Carolyn,
Hearps Stephen,
Spittal Matthew,
Sawyer Susan M.,
Patton George C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.12179
Subject(s) - medicine , victimisation , psychiatry , population , pill , poison control , young adult , injury prevention , demography , medical emergency , gerontology , environmental health , sociology , pharmacology
and Aims Young offenders are at increased risk of preventable death after release from custody, but risk factors for death in this population are poorly understood. Despite their poor health profiles, no studies have examined mortality outcomes in young people who have served community‐based orders. The aims of this study were to describe the causes and identify risk factors for death in a cohort of young offenders in V ictoria, A ustralia. Design and Methods We interviewed young people serving a custodial ( n = 273) or community‐based order ( n = 242) in V ictoria, A ustralia in 2002–2003. Measures included demographics and family history, offence history, experience of victimisation, mental illness, self‐harm and substance use. Deaths up to 31 D ecember 2011 were identified through a probabilistic linkage with the N ational D eath I ndex. Results The all‐cause crude mortality rate was 4.2 (95% confidence interval 2.7–6.8) per 1000 person years and was not significantly different for those who had served custodial and community‐based orders. Most deaths were due to drug overdose, traffic accidents or suicide. Adjusting for age, sex and order type, risk factors for death from the baseline interview included weekly use of opioids, sleeping pills or painkillers, polydrug use and injecting drug use. Discussion and Conclusions Young people who have served community‐based and custodial orders are at an increased risk of preventable death. Those engaging in risky substance use, particularly injecting drug use and use of multiple central nervous system depressants, are at greatest risk. There is an urgent need to develop and rigorously evaluate preventive interventions. [Kinner SA, Degenhardt L, Coffey C, Hearps S, Spittal M, Sawyer SM, Patton GC. Substance use and risk of death in young offenders: A prospective data linkage study. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;34:46–50]