Table 5 Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) by time after release

Groot et al. 2016 [49]

Drug intoxication death

In the year after release

All ages:

Men—Observed mean annual deaths 72. Expected mean annual deaths 6.9

Women—Observed mean annual deaths 14. Expected mean annual deaths 0.52

11.59 (6.38–16.79)

Kouyoumdjian et al. 2016 [52]

Overdose

First 2 weeks after release

-

56.0 (95% CI 15.3–143.4)

Weeks 2 and 4 after release

-

29.0 (95% CI 3.5–104.8)

Larochelle et al. 2019 [53]

Fatal opioid overdose

Release from incarceration in past 12 months

-

30.0 (24.8–35.3)

Release from incarceration: 0–3 months

-

43.2 (32.6–53.8)

Release from incarceration: 4–12 & NOT 0–3 months

-

21.0 (15.8–26.2)

Release from incarceration: 13–24 & NOT 0–12 months

-

16.6 (12.3–20.9)

Release from incarceration: 25–36 & NOT 0–24 months

-

13.2 (8.9–17.6)

Lim et al. 2012 [54]

Drug-related death

Any time

Deaths, n = 219

2.2 (1.9–2.5)

First two weeks after release

Deaths, n = 25

8.0 (5.2–11.8)

3–4 weeks after release

Deaths, n = 12

4.2 (2.1–7.3)

5–6 weeks after release

Deaths, n = 10

3.7 (1.8–6.8)

7–8 weeks after release

Deaths, n = 5

2.0 (0.6–4.6)

 ≥ 9 after release

Deaths, n = 167

1.9 (1.6–2.2)

Pizzicato et al. 2018 [56]

Overdose deaths

0–2 weeks after release

Observed deaths, n = 107

Expected deaths, n = 3

36.91 (29.92–43.90)

3–4 weeks after release

Observed deaths, n = 39

Expected deaths, n = 3

13.86 (9.51–18.21)

 ≥ 5 weeks after release

Observed deaths, n = 691

Expected deaths, n = 153

4.53 (4.19–4.87)

Ranapurwala et al. 2018 [21]

Opioid overdose death

2-weeks after release

All opioids deaths

Observed deaths, n = 54

Expected deaths, n = 1.3

40.5 (29.7–51.3)

1-year after release

Observed deaths, n = 339

Expected deaths, n = 32

10.6 (9.5–11.7)

Complete follow-up

Observed deaths, n = 1329

Expected deaths, n = 160.9

8.3 (7.8–8.7)

2 weeks after release

Heroin deaths

Observed deaths, n = 21

Expected deaths, n = 0.28

74.4 (42.6–106.3)

1-year after release

Observed deaths, n = 119

Expected deaths, n = 6.7

17.7 (14.6–20.9)

Complete follow-up

Observed deaths, n = 407

Expected deaths, n = 28.5

14.3 (12.9–15.7)

2-weeks after release

Methadone deaths

Observed deaths, n = 14

Expected deaths, n = 0.42

33.5 (15.9–51.0)

1-year after release

Observed deaths, n = 96

Expected deaths, n = 10.1

9.5 (7.6–11.5)

Complete follow-up

Observed deaths, n = 348

Expected deaths, n = 57.7

6.0 (5.4–6.7)

2-weeks after release

Other opioids (commonly prescribed)

Observed deaths, n = 19

Expected deaths, n = 0.53

35.9 (19.8–52.1)

1-year after release

Observed deaths, n = 104

Expected deaths, n = 12.7

8.2 (6.6–9.8)

Complete follow-up

Observed deaths, n = 457

Expected deaths, n = 62.5

7.3 (6.6–8.0)

2-weeks after release

Other synthetic narcotics (e.g. fentanyl)

Observed deaths, n = 3

Expected deaths, n = 0.24

12.4 (0–26.5)

1-year after release

Observed deaths, n = 68

Expected deaths, n = 5.8

11.8 (9.0–14.6)

Complete follow-up

Observed deaths, n = 314

Expected deaths, n = 26.3

11.9 (10.6–13.2)