Psychostimulant-related Deaths Among Former Inmates

Overview

Journal J Addict Med

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2011 Dec 3

PMID 22134174

Citations 4

Authors

Susan Calcaterra

Patrick Blatchford

Peter D Friedmann

Ingrid A Binswanger

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Psychostimulants are highly addictive and their use is increasing. Little is known about psychostimulant-related deaths. This study identified characteristics, risk factors, and contributing substances reported upon death among former prison inmates who died from a psychostimulant-related death.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study of released inmates from 1999 to 2003 (N = 30,237) linked data from the Washington State Department of Corrections with the National Death Index. We examined characteristics of individuals who died with psychostimulants listed among their causes of death. These were categorized into 3 groups: (1) noncocaine psychostimulants, (2) cocaine only, and (3) all psychostimulants. Cox proportional hazards regression determined risk factors for death in each group, and the risk of death in the first 2 weeks after release from prison

Results: Of the 443 inmates who died, 25 (6%) had noncocaine psychostimulants listed among their causes of death. Six of these 25 deaths had both noncocaine psychostimulants and cocaine listed among their causes-of-death. Most of the former inmates who died with noncocaine psychostimulants were male (n = 21, 84%) and non-Hispanic white (88%, n = 22). Cocaine only was listed among the causes-of-death for 49 former inmates; most were male (n = 35, 71%) and non-Hispanic white (n = 27, 55%). Longer length of incarceration was associated with a reduced risk of death from any psychostimulant use (hazard ratio = 0.76, confidence interval = 0.63-0.920 for each additional year of incarceration) and from use of noncocaine psychostimulants (hazard ratio = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.22-0.80). Risk of death was highest during the first 2 weeks postrelease for cocaine only-related deaths (incidence mortality ratio = 1224.0, confidence interval = 583-1865).

Conclusions: Former prisoners have a significant risk of death from psychostimulants, especially within the first 2 weeks postrelease.

Citing Articles

Record linkage studies of drug-related deaths among adults who were released from prison to the community: a scoping review.

Cooper J, Onyeka I, Cardwell C, Paterson E, Kirk R, OReilly D BMC Public Health. 2023; 23(1):826.

PMID: 37147595 PMC: 10161544. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15673-0.

The predictive validity of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) for moderate- to high-risk cannabis, methamphetamine and opioid use after release from prison.

Cumming C, Kinner S, McKetin R, Young J, Li I, Preen D Addiction. 2023; 118(6):1107-1115.

PMID: 36680769 PMC: 10952147. DOI: 10.1111/add.16138.

Association of Opioid and Stimulant Use Disorder Diagnoses With Fatal and Nonfatal Overdose Among People With a History of Incarceration.

Palis H, Gan W, Xavier C, Desai R, Scow M, Sedgemore K JAMA Netw Open. 2022; 5(11):e2243653.

PMID: 36416821 PMC: 9685494. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.43653.

Substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, and mortality after release from prison: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study.

Chang Z, Lichtenstein P, Larsson H, Fazel S Lancet Psychiatry. 2015; 2(5):422-430.

PMID: 26360286 PMC: 4579558. DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00088-7.

References

Westover A, Nakonezny P, Haley R . Acute myocardial infarction in young adults who abuse amphetamines. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2008; 96(1-2):49-56. PMC: 2533107. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.01.027. View

ONeil M, Kuczenski R, Segal D, Cho A, Lacan G, Melega W . Escalating dose pretreatment induces pharmacodynamic and not pharmacokinetic tolerance to a subsequent high-dose methamphetamine binge. Synapse. 2006; 60(6):465-73. DOI: 10.1002/syn.20320. View

Iritani B, Hallfors D, Bauer D . Crystal methamphetamine use among young adults in the USA. Addiction. 2007; 102(7):1102-13. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01847.x. View

Fazel S, Bains P, Doll H . Substance abuse and dependence in prisoners: a systematic review. Addiction. 2006; 101(2):181-91. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01316.x. View

. Mortality following release from prison. Med Sci Law. 1990; 30(1):12-6. DOI: 10.1177/002580249003000104. View

Arria A, Caldeira K, OGrady K, Vincent K, Johnson E, Wish E . Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among college students: associations with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and polydrug use. Pharmacotherapy. 2008; 28(2):156-69. PMC: 2906759. DOI: 10.1592/phco.28.2.156. View

Farnsworth T, Brugger C, Malters P . Myocardial infarction after intranasal methamphetamine. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1997; 54(5):586-7. DOI: 10.1093/ajhp/54.5.586. View

Degenhardt L, Randall D, Hall W, Law M, Butler T, Burns L . Mortality among clients of a state-wide opioid pharmacotherapy program over 20 years: risk factors and lives saved. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009; 105(1-2):9-15. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.05.021. View

Ho E, Josephson S, Lee H, Smith W . Cerebrovascular complications of methamphetamine abuse. Neurocrit Care. 2009; 10(3):295-305. DOI: 10.1007/s12028-008-9177-5. View

10.

Kaye S, McKetin R, Duflou J, Darke S . Methamphetamine and cardiovascular pathology: a review of the evidence. Addiction. 2007; 102(8):1204-11. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01874.x. View

11.

Klein-Schwartz W . Abuse and toxicity of methylphenidate. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2002; 14(2):219-23. DOI: 10.1097/00008480-200204000-00013. View

12.

Ohta K, Mori M, Yoritaka A, Okamoto K, Kishida S . Delayed ischemic stroke associated with methamphetamine use. J Emerg Med. 2005; 28(2):165-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2004.06.015. View

13.

Darke S, Kaye S, McKetin R, Duflou J . Major physical and psychological harms of methamphetamine use. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2008; 27(3):253-62. DOI: 10.1080/09595230801923702. View

14.

Turnipseed S, Richards J, Kirk J, Diercks D, Amsterdam E . Frequency of acute coronary syndrome in patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain after methamphetamine use. J Emerg Med. 2003; 24(4):369-73. DOI: 10.1016/s0736-4679(03)00031-3. View

15.

Bell J, Trinh L, Butler B, Randall D, Rubin G . Comparing retention in treatment and mortality in people after initial entry to methadone and buprenorphine treatment. Addiction. 2009; 104(7):1193-200. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02627.x. View

16.

McGee S, McGee D, McGee M . Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage related to methamphetamine abuse: autopsy findings and clinical correlation. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2004; 25(4):334-7. DOI: 10.1097/01.paf.0000137206.16785.2f. View

17.

Costa G, Pizzi C, Bresciani B, Tumscitz C, Gentile M, Bugiardini R . Acute myocardial infarction caused by amphetamines: a case report and review of the literature. Ital Heart J. 2001; 2(6):478-80. View

18.

DeSantis A, Webb E, Noar S . Illicit use of prescription ADHD medications on a college campus: a multimethodological approach. J Am Coll Health. 2008; 57(3):315-24. DOI: 10.3200/JACH.57.3.315-324. View

19.

Ravndal E, Amundsen E . Mortality among drug users after discharge from inpatient treatment: an 8-year prospective study. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009; 108(1-2):65-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.11.008. View

20.

Yen C, Chong M . Comorbid psychiatric disorders, sex, and methamphetamine use in adolescents: a case-control study. Compr Psychiatry. 2006; 47(3):215-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2005.07.006. View