Effect of initiating drug treatment on the risk of drug-related poisoning death and acquisitive crime among offending heroin users.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A recent Cochrane review of randomised trials identified a lack of evidence for interventions provided to drug-using offenders. We use routine data to address whether contact with treatment services reduces heroin users' likelihood of a future acquisitive offence or drug-related poisoning (DRP) death.

METHODS:

Heroin-users were identified from probation assessments and linked to drug-treatment, mortality and offending records. The study cohort was selected to ensure that the subject was not: in prison, in treatment or had recently left treatment. Subjects were classed as initiators if they attended a triage appointment within two weeks of their assessment; non-initiators otherwise. Initiator and non-initiators were compared over a maximum of one year, with respect to their risk of recorded acquisitive offence or DRP-death. Balance was sought using propensity score matching and missing data were accounted for using multiple imputation.

RESULTS:

Nine percent of assessments identified for analysis were classed as initiators. Accounting for observed confounding and missing data, there was a reduction in DRPs associated with initiator assessments, however there was uncertainty around this estimate such that a null-effect could not be ruled out (HR: 0.42, 95% CI 0.17-1.04). There was no evidence of a decrease in the recidivism risk, in fact the analysis showed a small increase (HR: 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.18).

CONCLUSION:

For heroin-using offenders, initial contact with treatment services does not appear to reduce the likelihood of a future acquisitive offence.

• Authors: Matthias Pierce, Sheila M Bird, Matthew Hickman, John Marsden, Graham Dunn, Toby Seddon, Tim Millar
• Journal: The International journal on drug policy (Int J Drug Policy) Vol. 51 Pg. 42-51 (01 2018) ISSN: 1873-4758 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 29156402 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Narcotics
• Heroin

Topics

• Adult
• Cause of Death
• Crime (psychology, statistics & numerical data)
• Criminals (psychology, statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Heroin (toxicity)
• Heroin Dependence (mortality, prevention & control, psychology)
• Humans
• Male
• Narcotics
• United Kingdom (epidemiology)