This work is a product of the project “My first 48 hours out – comprehensive approaches to pre and post prison release interventions for drug users in the criminal justice system”.

For prisoners with a history of drug use, in particular opioid use, the risks related to drug use, in particular overdose and death are extremely high in the immediate period after release from prison, due to high rates of relapse and lower opioid tolerance. Much still needs to be done in order to ensure that people with a history of drug use are sufficiently cared for, when released from prisons.

These guidelines are relevant to prisoner healthcare policy makers, managers and practitioners involved in caring for people who use drugs and those likely to witness an overdose.