The first week after prison is the deadliest for ex-inmates
Alcohol and drugs kill many in the early days of freedom
EVERY year more than 30m people are released from behind bars. Many leave much as they enter—in very poor health. People who end up in prison have higher rates of infections such as HIV and hepatitis; cognitive disabilities; mental illness and addictions. Prisoners tend to have several of these problems, often rooted in abuse or other trauma. Unsurprisingly, ex-prisoners die earlier than those who have never been incarcerated. What is striking is how many deaths occur within days of release.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Death at the exit”
From the April 13th 2024 edition
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