Citation

Kinner SA, Degenhardt L, Coffey C, Hearps S, Spittal M, Sawyer SM, Patton GC. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2014; 34(1): 46-50.

Affiliation

Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/dar.12179

PMID

25066461

Abstract

INTRODUCTION 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 Victoria, Australia. DESIGN AND METHODS: We interviewed young people serving a custodial (n = 273) or community-based order (n = 242) in Victoria, Australia 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 December 2011 were identified through a probabilistic linkage with the National Death Index.

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.

Language: en